2.18 Special Students

2.17 Pregnancy and Childbirth

Harvard Medical School is committed to supporting students who have children while participating in Master’s programs and to working with such students to facilitate the completion of their education. Our goal is to provide options for the student to continue making satisfactory progress toward completion of the Master’s degree during the maximum time allowed. Students expecting the birth or adoption of a child while they are participating in a Master’s program should consult with the program director as soon as possible to develop an appropriate plan of action. Students who expect to go on a leave of absence as a result of childbirth or adoption and are recipients of financial aid also must meet with their financial aid officer. Should a leave of absence be necessary, ordinary policies governing leaves of absence will apply (See Section 2.08). Students who are engaged in a mentored research or capstone project and are expecting the birth of a child are strongly encouraged to consult with their own obstetrician regarding prevention of potentially harmful exposures in those research environments. Unless formal disability accommodations are in place, programs cannot adapt the mode of instruction (virtual, blended, residential) to accommodate pregnant student's plans of study. See Section 8.01 Services for Students with Disabilities. See also: Section 2.07 Policy on Length of Time to Complete the Master’s Degree