The two newest lactation rooms are located in the Henry Madden Library (third floor) and the Kremen School Building (first floor atrium). A third station is planned for the Student Health and Counseling Center this spring. There are five other locations on campus.

Identifying and creating lactation stations is a program that has recently evolved, with federal and state laws, including ADA, Title IX and Fair Labor Standards Act, requiring that nursing mothers be afforded reasonable breaks to express milk, as well as have a private location shielded from view to do so, said Kirsten Corey, ADA administrator and manager of compliance programs in Human Resources.

The Fresno State campus started with three sites in approximately 2013, including a designated location at the University Student Union. In the last year, with support of the Fresno State Breastfeeding Coalition student group, the Division of Administration and Finance and multiple Student Service programs, the University was designated as a participant in the Partnership for a Healthier America Initiative to provide and expand wellness programs and services on the Fresno State campus.

Fresno State wants to provide these type of benefits for employees, staff and students so that they can have safe, private and accessible lactation areas to express milk when necessary, Corey said.

The library location was added at the end of last year because of significant high foot traffic throughout the building and its extended hours of operation. Kremen established a lactation room to support the Daycare Center parents and multiple evening teaching programs. Students taking night classes were not comfortable walking to the closest open and available station on campus at the University Student Union, Corey said.

Through the Partnership, a mini freezer was provided for the lactation room in the library. In support of the Partnership’s initiative, the Student Breastfeeding Coalition worked with the federal Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program to provide ice packs that nursing mothers can take with them to keep milk cool, said Juanita Aguilar, Human Resources benefits manager. First 5 Fresno County was also able to provide cooler bags, Aguilar said.

Human Resources has also been working to upgrade some of the rooms by adding additional security features at some locations, with the goal of having doors and locks at all locations to ensure nursing mothers feel safe and secure.

“We’re trying to make them all the safe, and consistent with all of the same amenities,” Aguilar said.

Faculty, staff and/or students who need access to a lactation station, or more information, should contact Human Resources at 559.278.2032 or visit Fresno State’s Nursing Mothers and Lactation Accommodations.