Supporting Nursing Parents at Hunter College

Hunter College strives for our campus to be fully inclusive and family-friendly — and we want all members of our college community to feel that it is. We recognize that balancing academic, professional, and parenting responsibilities can be challenging, and we’re committed to providing the support you need.

As part of this commitment, Hunter has designated private, comfortable lactation rooms across our campuses for nursing parents who wish to express milk while on site. These spaces are equipped with essential amenities and maintained regularly to ensure a clean and welcoming environment.

The Lactation Space Protocol and Guidelines outline everything you need to know — from where to find these rooms to how to request access and your rights as a student, employee, or visitor.

LACTATION SPACE PROTOCOL AND GUIDELINES

Hunter College is committed to supporting students, faculty, and staff who are parents as they balance their personal and professional responsibilities. In this spirit—and in line with prevailing public health guidance on the benefits of breastfeeding—we are expanding access to lactation rooms on campus.

Federal and state laws, including the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, New York State Labor Law (Sections 206-c and 196-b), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, require Hunter College to provide protections and resources for nursing students and employees. These include access to lactation spaces and protection from discrimination or retaliation related to expressing milk.

This protocol applies to Hunter students, faculty, and staff. Lactation rooms may also be made available to campus visitors, as outlined below.

Lactation Space Requirements
Each lactation space must:

  • Not be a bathroom
  • Be shielded from view and free from intrusion
  • Have nearby access to a sink with running water and paper towels
  • Be near a refrigerator
  • Contain a table, electrical outlet, and chair

Lactation Room Locations

68th Street Campus
West Building: 7th Floor, Room 723
North Building: 3rd Floor, Room 324

Silberman School of Social Work
Room 325

Hunter College Campus Schools
2nd Floor, Room 247 (access via Gilbert Rivera, High School Main Office)

Brookdale Campus
Room 1015

When in use, lactation rooms will be locked from the inside or display a sign reading “In Use.” Additional signage will indicate nearby alternative locations.

Employees

Employees are entitled to reasonable break time for up to three years after childbirth to express milk, including a 30-minute paid break per session as needed. These breaks should be discussed with supervisors and may coincide with paid break or meal periods. Alternate scheduling arrangements may also be considered.

Upon hire, annually, and following the birth of a child, employees must be informed of their lactation rights. Requests for reasonable accommodation or access to lactation rooms should be directed to Michelle Blackman at mb653@hunter.cuny.edu.

CUNY must provide a private room or space near the employee’s work area within five days of a request. This can include a secured office or one of the designated lactation rooms listed above.

Information on Reasonable Accommodations for employees can be found in the CUNY Procedures for Implementing Reasonable Accommodations for Employees Policy https://www.cuny.edu/about/administration/offices/legal-affairs/policies-resources/reasonable-accommodations-and-academic-adjustments/accommodations/

Students

Students may access lactation rooms on a first-come, first-served basis using their OneCard. To request access, complete the OneCard Lactation Room Authorization Form:
https://webforms.hunter.cuny.edu/icit/view.php?id=25
For assistance, contact the OneCard Office at (212) 650–3191 or onecard@hunter.cuny.edu.

If there are issues with requesting access to the lactation room, please contact the Dean of Students by calling (212) 771-4878 or emailing dean.of.students@hunter.cuny.edu.

If you need temporary accommodations based on your pregnancy or thereafter, you can contact the Office of AccessABILITY at (212) 772-4857 or email at accessability@hunter.cuny.edu For additional information on reasonable accommodations for students, you may refer to Policy 7.10 in the CUNY’s Manual of General Policy https://policy.cuny.edu/general-policy/

Visitors

Visitors may use lactation rooms with advance notice. Requests should be submitted at least five days prior to arrival by the visitor or the hosting department. Email Director of Public Safety Joseph Foelsch at jf1128@hunter.cuny.edu and Assistant Vice President for Human Resources Michelle Blackman at mb653@hunter.cuny.edu.

Cleaning and Sanitation

Users should clean up after themselves, including spills and trash. Facilities staff will maintain the rooms regularly. Hunter College is not responsible for the security of stored milk; users should label any containers placed in public refrigerators.

Reporting

Any individual who feels they are being discriminated against or retaliated against, based on their accommodations, pregnancy status or medical condition can file a report via the CUNY University-Wide Discrimination and Retaliation Reporting Portal https://www.cuny.edu/about/administration/offices/hr/discrimination-and-retaliation-report-form/