Editing Herzing Issues: Ethics and Credential Representation (section)

=== HU-015: Mandatory pregnancy disclosure to Program Chair required; raises Title IX and privacy concerns ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%"
! style="width:14em" | Severity
| Medium
! Status
| CONFIRMED
|-
! Issue type
| Policy Concern
! Date added
| 2026-04-30
|-
! Owner
| colspan="3" | Title IX Coordinator / Academic Affairs
|}
'''Finding.''' Per the tracker's evidence, the Prelicensure Student Handbook requires a student who is pregnant to notify the Program Chair or designee and submit a medical clearance form to continue in clinical.

'''Evidence.''' Handbook p.12: "If a student is pregnant, the student must notify the Program Chair or designee and submit a medical clearance form to continue in clinical." Handbook p.14 repeats this requirement. Source Group: Prelicensure Student Handbook 2026 (SICCED09255468); Defense Bundles 2026-04-29 / 2026-04-30.

'''Reported statement.'''
<blockquote>Although we consider pregnancy to be a normal event, for the student's safety, the nursing program requires a statement from the student's healthcare provider providing permission to continue clinical experiences or delineate any special needs or restrictions.</blockquote>

'''Standards.''' Title IX (20 U.S.C. §1681); 34 CFR §106.40; OCR Guidance on Pregnancy (2022). Mandatory disclosure requirements must be narrowly tailored. Routing disclosure through Program Chair rather than confidential health services may chill voluntary disclosure.

'''Impact.''' If accommodations are then limited based on disclosed pregnancy status, this could constitute pregnancy discrimination under Title IX. Disclosure to Program Chair rather than confidential health office is a privacy concern.

'''Notes.''' Clinical safety rationale is legitimate. However, procedure as written requires disclosure to academic supervisor. Compare to ADA/FMLA models where disclosures go to HR/health services, not direct supervisors.

<span id="HU-069"></span>