Lactation Support Policy for OCC Health Sciences and Nursing

I. Policy Statement 

Oakland Community College’s (OCC) Health Sciences and Nursing Programs: Nursing;; Dental Hygiene; Radiologic Technology; Respiratory Therapy; Surgical Technology; Medical Assistant; Healthcare Administration; and Diagnostic Medical Sonography have developed these guideline policies to support lactation/breastfeeding students to meet their breastfeeding goals while at the same time fostering an effective and productive educational environment where both pedagogical and clinical requirements are met.

OCC prohibits harassment and/or discrimination against students based on their lactation needs, as a condition related to sex. 

If any problems arise in relation to lactation needs, the Title IX Coordinator will engage in the interactive process with the student and any involved staff and/or faculty member(s) to facilitate equal educational opportunities for the lactating student(s).

Title IX Coordinator:  Carmen White at ccwhite@oaklandcc.edu, office #: 248-341-2026.

II. Definitions

A. Breastfeeding students/lactating students | These words will be used interchangeably and are intended to include any student who expresses milk for nourishment for a child.

B. Reasonable accommodations | For the purpose of this policy, reasonable accommodations are changes to the academic environment that allow a lactating student to pursue their educational program and enjoy equal educational benefits.

C. Absence | Includes tardiness or a break for the expressing of milk within class or a clinical rotation.

III. Responsibilities

A. Lactating Health Sciences and Nursing student | Advance notice to program leadership and commitment to completion of pedagogical and clinical program requirements.

B. Department support | OCC faculty and staff strive to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for the college’s diverse student body. OCC staff will educate faculty on their responsibilities as well as students on implementing this policy.

IV. Appropriate Facilities

Clean lactation rooms are available for use on each OCC campus. The rooms offer a secure and private place for mothers to express milk for their nursing children.
Campus lactation room locations:

• • Auburn Hills: D-218
  • Highland Lakes: WH-315
  • Orchard Ridge: K-100A
  • Royal Oak: B-210
  • Southfield: A-205B

V. Reasonable Accommodations Based Upon Educational Setting

A. Classroom settings | In support of students who are lactating, instructors will allow students to pump during classroom instruction time, without penalty, as long as the student maintains a reasonable pumping schedule. Students are encouraged to notify their instructors in advance of their pumping needs. Students are also responsible for obtaining missed materials (e.g. peers or instructor, per instructor guidelines).

B. Clinical settings | In support of lactating students in the clinical components of their educational programs, pumping shall be permitted at reasonable intervals, if necessary. Lactating clinical students must make every effort to pump before or after clinical instruction to minimize disruption to the required clinical educational components of the degree for which the student is enrolled.

If necessary, slots of time may be “blocked” during the clinical rotation schedule to allow sufficient time for pumping. As in the classroom setting, students are encouraged to notify their clinical instructor or course facilitator in advance of their pumping needs prior to the start of the clinical rotation.

The scheduling of any make-up time will be decided at the discretion of the clinical instructor or course facilitator, who will determine whether the makeup occurs in a clinical setting or in a simulation lab.

VI. Appeal

Students whose lactation accommodation requests cannot be met following the interactive process with the Title IX Coordinator and their assigned faculty and/or clinical staff, are permitted to file an appeal to the Vice Chancellor of Student Services. The petition for appeal must be filed within fifteen (15) days of receiving a denial letter. The Vice Chancellor’s decision regarding the merit of the appeal is final.

Change Log

• 07-14-2025  Effective Date

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