Purpose

This bill aims to ensure pregnant and parenting students at Minnesota postsecondary institutions have prioritized access to course registration and receive accommodations and protections related to their pregnancy or parenting responsibilities. It would modify state statute to require priority registration and specify rights and supports for these students at public colleges and universities, with the University of Minnesota as a public institution that is “requested” rather than required to comply.

Key Definitions

• Parenting student: a student enrolled at a public college or university who is a parent, legal guardian of a child under 18, or can claim a dependent child under 18.
• Postsecondary institution: public colleges and universities governed by Minnesota State Colleges and Universities or eligible private institutions with in-person courses on Minnesota campuses; the University of Minnesota is included as a respected institution to be encouraged to comply.
• Priority registration: the ability to register for courses before the general undergraduate registration period.
• Pregnancy or related conditions: as defined by federal rules referenced in the bill.

Main Provisions

• Priority registration for pregnant and parenting students

  • Public postsecondary institutions must automatically assign eligible pregnant and parenting students a priority registration time that occurs by the earliest general undergraduate registration period.
  • Priority registration must be granted without a separate petition, discretionary approval, or case-by-case determination beyond verifying parenting status.
  • The University of Minnesota is requested to provide priority registration in the same manner.

• Rights and protections for pregnant and parenting students

  • Institutions may not require a student to take leave, withdraw, limit studies, switch majors, join or stop participating in courses or programs solely due to pregnancy or parenting status.
  • Institutions must provide reasonable modifications, including those given to students with temporary medical conditions, and adjustments for health and safety related to pregnancy and the unborn child (e.g., keeping a safe distance from hazardous substances or areas).
  • Institutions must excuse absences, allow make-up work, provide extra time for assignments, and provide access to instructional materials and lecture recordings for excused absences, on par with accommodations for temporary medical conditions.
  • Pregnant or parenting students may take a leave of absence and, if they are in good academic standing when they take the leave, return to their program in good standing without needing to reapply for admission.

• Early registration and notices

  • If a public postsecondary institution offers early registration for any group, it must offer the same to pregnant or parenting students.
  • Institutions must provide proactive priority registration to pregnant and parenting students.
  • Requirements include automatic assignment of a registration time, no need for extra petitions, and communication to all students about rights and the availability of priority registration.
  • Written and electronic notices must be sent to each student who self-identifies or is verified as pregnant or parenting, informing them of eligibility and how to register.
  • Institutions must publish detailed information about parenting student rights and priority registration procedures on their public website and in the student handbook, and provide annual notices.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Adds explicit, automatic priority registration for pregnant and parenting students at public postsecondary institutions.
• Requires reasonable accommodations and specified supports (absences, makeup work, extra time, access to materials) for pregnancy-related needs, on par with accommodations for temporary medical conditions.
• Prohibits requiring pregnancy-related leaves or program changes as a condition of continued enrollment or progress.
• Ensures ongoing communication and clear notice to all students about rights and to eligible students about their priority registration eligibility.
• Extends similar requirements to early registration practices if the institution uses them for other groups.
• Clarifies that the University of Minnesota is “requested to” comply, signaling a guidance/encouragement role rather than an absolute mandate for that specific institution.

Practical Impact

• Pregnant and parenting students would more reliably access course registration before their peers, reducing risk of scheduling conflicts with health needs or childcare.
• Institutions would provide concrete supports to stay enrolled, complete coursework, and return after pregnancy-related absences without penalty.
• Overall, the bill expands protections and accommodations to student parents, aligning higher education practices with pregnancy-related needs.

Potential Considerations

• Implementation details for automatic registration timing and verification processes may require administrative systems updates.
• The language distinguishes the University of Minnesota as a requested compliance area, which could affect how uniformly the protections are adopted across all institutions.

Relevant Terms pregnant and parenting students priority registration postsecondary institution University of Minnesota (requested to comply) reasonable modifications excused absence good academic standing leave of absence make-up assignments instructional materials video recordings of lectures early registration public postsecondary institution pregnancy-related protections health and safety accommodations dependent child parenting status