Vernon College Policy regarding Parenting Students
As outlined in Texas House Bill 1361 enacted in 2024, Vernon College supports students who are parents of children under 18 years of age and thus identified as “parenting student”. Vernon College has designated the Director of Student Success as the “liaison officer” for such students. The Vernon College liaison officer will focus on the “College Readiness” of these students. As the liaison, the Director of Student Success will also ensure that parenting students are notified of resources including but not limited to:
• Medical and Behavioral Health coverage/referrals
• Public Benefit programs that include housing and food
• Parenting and Childcare Resources
• Employment Resources
• Transportation Resources
• Academic Success Strategies
• All other resources targeted at assisting Vernon College Students
Vernon College will NOT require or demand parenting or pregnant students who have issues relating to parenting or pregnancy to:
• Take a leave of absence or withdraw from a certificate or program
• Take a reduced load or limit class availability
• Participate in alternative programs
• Change the students major, degree, or certificate
• Refrain from joining or cease participating in any course, activity, or program
Vernon College will provide the student with all options available to them including dropping/withdrawing and deferred entrance in to a program.
Vernon College will provide reasonable accommodations to pregnant and parenting students through the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD). The OSD Coordinator will review relevant documentation provided by the student and determine accommodations that:
• Would be provided to a student with a temporary medical condition
• Are related to the health and safety of a student or the student’s unborn child including safe distances from substances and activities dangerous to the student or the student’s unborn child
• Excuse the student’s absences upon receipt of approved documentation
• Allow the student to make up missed work
• Allow the student extra time to complete work in line with other students who have a temporary medical condition
• Take a leave of absence and return to degree or certificate program without readmission if the student was in academic good standing at the time of the leave of absence
Any disagreement related to accommodations that cannot be resolved will adhere to the Vernon College OSD/Parenting Student Grievance Policy outlined in the Vernon College Student Handbook.