Chapman University seeks to provide a welcoming environment for all members of the University community and guests, and has several lactation rooms throughout the campus to support breastfeeding or nursing parents so that they have the resources they need to balance work, family, and education.
As part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, the Fair Labor Standards Act was amended to include the following requirements of employers with 50 or more employees:
- Allow a nursing parent reasonable, unpaid breaks to express breast milk for their child for one year after the child’s birth. This break time is given each time the nursing parent has the need to express milk.
- Provide a location, other than a bathroom, for a nursing parent. This space must be shielded from view and free from intrusion by coworkers and the public.
When a lactation suite is not available, a space that meets the following minimum requirements must be made available for a nursing parent:
- Private space, shielded from view, with a door that can be locked from the inside
- A chair and a table to rest the breast pump and supplies
- An electrical outlet for plugging in a breast pump
- Close proximity to a sink with hot and cold water
The University offers four Lactation Suites available to assist breastfeeding parents, including campus guests, while they are on-campus.