MiraCosta College ("the District") is committed to fostering an inclusive, supportive, and equitable educational and workplace environment in which students and employees can pursue their academic and professional goals free from discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions.
In accordance with Title IX, students and employees are protected from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation related to pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, termination of pregnancy, and associated medical conditions.
These protections extend beyond the classroom and apply to all aspects of the District's educational programs and activities, including internships, clinical placements, laboratory work, athletics, financial aid, scholarships, career counseling, and other district-sponsored programs and services.
To ensure equitable access, MiraCosta College must:
- Permit students to take medically necessary leave related to pregnancy, childbirth, miscarriage, termination of pregnancy, recovery, or related medical conditions when supported by a healthcare provider.
- Protect students from academic, financial, or programmatic penalties for taking such leave.
- Treat pregnant students the same as other students receiving medical care, including those in the later stages of pregnancy. The district may not require a pregnant student to obtain medical clearance to attend classes or participate in District activities unless the same requirement applies to all students with similar medical conditions.
- Provide reasonable modifications and accommodations, when appropriate, to ensure students can continue participating in educational programs and activities.
- Ensure that course policies, attendance requirements, grading practices, and other procedures established by faculty or staff do not discriminate against students because of pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related conditions.
Students seeking information about pregnancy-related rights, reasonable modifications, or other supportive measures are encouraged to contact Colleen Maeder, Interim Director of Title IX & Inclusive Practices, at cmaeder@miracosta.edu.
MiraCosta College encourages employees with questions regarding pregnancy-related rights, reasonable modifications, accommodations, benefits, leave entitlements, or other supportive resources to contact the following individuals:
- Benefits & Leaves: Michele McCaffery, Interim Benefits Supervisor at mmccaffery@miracosta.edu
- Reasonable modifications & accommodations: Justin Crast, Risk & Safety Manager, ADA Coordinator at jcrast@miracosta.edu
- Other supportive resources or to report discrimination, harassment, and retaliation: Colleen Maeder, Interim Director of Title IX & Inclusive Practices at cmaeder@miracosta.edu
Students and employees are entitled to a reasonable amount of time to accommodate pumping, breast-feeding and related needs, and recover from pregnancy without incurring an academic or employment penalty.
In accordance with AP 5203: Lactation Accommodations, students shall not incur an academic penalty as a result of their use of the reasonable accommodations, and shall be provided the opportunity to make up any work missed due to such use.
The College's lactation rooms are secure, lockable spaces equipped with:
- A comfortable chair
- A side table
- A sink
- A refrigerator
Outside each lactation room, you will find a QR code linking to a Google form that must be completed upon first use. Once the form has been submitted, you will receive the access code, which can be used for all district lactation rooms.
To learn more about resources and support available to student parents, please visit the CARE Student Parent Resources page.
- Learning Commons (OC 1200): Second floor, near the restrooms
- Student Services Building (OC 14): Room 235, second floor
- Media Arts Building (OC 28): Room 18
- Gym (OC 5200): Near the front entrance, adjacent to the restrooms
- OC30: Lactation space opening soon upon completion of construction
- Student Services Building (Building 900): Located outside the building and accessible through the SAN 900 vestibule, near the restrooms
- Student Services Building: Room CLC 311
- Main Building
If you experience any issues with a lactation room or have concerns about access or accommodations, please contact Colleen Maeder, Interim Director of Title & Inclusive Practices, at cmaeder@miracosta.edu directly so the matter can be addressed promptly.
- Student Services OC14 (inclusive restrooms on each floor)
- OC28 (inclusive restroom)
- OC30 (inclusive restroom near Honor’s Lounge)
- Equity Centers OC32 (both inclusive restrooms)
- OC5213, OC5218
- OC28116, OC28117, OC12130, OC12131
- OC12206, OC12207, OC12205 (second floor)
- SAN 100 (inclusive restroom)
- SAN 900 (inclusive restroom)
- SAN1100 (each of the inclusive restrooms)
- Building 100 (both inclusive restrooms across from 121)
- Building 300 (both inclusive restrooms near 309&310)
- Inclusive restrooms 16 & 17
