Pregnant SEAS

Pregnant SEAS Referral Form

What is Pregnant SEAS?

Pregnant Scholars Expecting Academic Success (Pregnant SEAS) provides support and information to students who are pregnant, have recently given birth, or are lactating. This includes students who encounter pregnancy loss, including voluntary or involuntary loss of pregnancy. Pregnant SEAS falls under the Title IX program at Cerritos College, which protects students from discrimination on the basis of sex. The Pregnant SEAS program is limited to students who are pregnant, have recently given birth, and/or are lactating. For more information about Title IX and how it protects students from discrimination related to pregnancy, visit the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights website. 

Why is Pregnant SEAS Important?

Over two-million college students become pregnant each year. Pregnant and parenting students are also more likely to attend community colleges, like Cerritos College.

Students with children have lower rates of degree attainment (about 27% within 6 years of enrollment) due to time constraints, handling multiple responsibilities, and financial issues. Offering support to these students is critical to their academic success.

Statistics found at www.iwpr.org 2019 report called “Parents in College” and www.thepregnantscholar.org

How Does Pregnant SEAS Help?

Pregnant SEAS provides support via one-on-one consultations to eligible students. A staff member will meet with the student to review the student’s class schedule and discuss academic accommodations they may need as a result of pregnancy and postpartum. 

Pregnant SEAS also provides information on rights and resources for eligible students and connects them with other on-campus and community resources.

All of these services are available to students free of charge. 

How Can I Get Connected to Pregnant SEAS?

  1. Employees and students should submit a Pregnant SEAS Referral Form to initiate outreach to a student who is pregnant or has a related condition. The student will be contacted to set up an intake meeting. Prior to the meeting, students should be prepared to provide information on their current class schedule. 

  2. The student will meet with a Pregnant SEAS staff member to discuss accommodation requests. Approval for accommodations is determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on how reasonable and feasible the request is. Common requests include, but are not limited to:
    1. Excused absence(s)
    2. Excused break(s)
    3. Adjusted deadlines
    4. Modification of equipment or tests
    5. More accessible classroom furniture
    6. Elevator access
    7. Note taking assistance
    8. Test proctoring

  3. Students are encouraged to provide a doctor’s note to the Pregnant SEAS program to verify pregnancy and anticipated due date. Don’t worry if a verification from you doctor is not yet received; you’ll still be allowed to participate in the program and receive accommodations. We recommend that students request medical documentation at their next doctor’s appointment or via email.

  4. Upon approval of Pregnant SEAS accommodations, the Pregnant SEAS staff will notify the student's instructors. If needed, the student, professors, and a Pregnant SEAS staff member may engage in an interactive process to determine if an accommodation request can be met.

  5. Students may need to adjust their education plan if needed. In some cases, it’s possible for the student to return to classes after childbirth, but that’s not always feasible depending on the duration of the absence and timing of the pregnancy. Any time a student needs to modify their education plan and/or withdraw from a course, it is strongly advised for students to meet with the Counseling and Financial Aid offices to understand how they may be impacted.

  6. Students can follow up with Pregnant SEAS for any changes or additional accommodations, including postpartum and lactation support.

Please visit the following webpages for more information related to the lactation lounge: