What would you do if a university student wanted to bring her newborn to class?

Buffy - they are supposed to work that way. The university is supposed to communicate with the student finance company, but they don't (for obvious reasons). Normally, universities have an attendance policy of 75-80 %, and any absence being proved as genuine.

No - but I've come out of the other side of strapping my babies onto my chest & getting on with it.

The subtext here is that the student has made a drastic personal mistake in getting pregnant. Given that university studies can stretch to up to 8-9 years for some career paths, and given that they overlap with prime fertility age of women, I think that the attitudes to mothers in education contribute a lot to opportunities for women in general.

Like I said, I've come out of the other side of this. Keeping a baby super quiet for a 90minute lecture before going home for quiet study is a doddle compared to juggling a baby and a graduate work program - which often include travel away, and would be hard to start part time. A typical family would have two or maybe even more kids - which quickly builds into an insurmountable career break.

Supporting this student does send a message to her classmates that you are supportive of motherhood. However - I don't think the response will be a flood of guerilla babywearers taking the piss. I think it may, however, make someone else more confident about attempting the balance.

I see overtones of social engineering in making it highly penal for educated women to have children at biologically optimal times. For my daughter - if she had the opportunty and was ambitious - I'd advise her to give birth in her early twenties, and then to lean on me, her father and her spouse in order to balance building a career and a family. The model of career building first, and then slotting in babies can be very hard.

I just can't understand the scenario, as I've said before. If these are regular lectures, where it's not the end of the world to duck out, there's no problem. But you have indicated that these are compulsory/ vitally important- what does this student have to lose before you decide it's not working?

Well, it's also not a nursery, and not designed as such.

A technological solution is a good one because it offers the best chance for everyone to learn, not just your one student.

I would like to see us supporting new mothers more by not making it compulsory from them to go everywhere in person, not when so much can be done online these days.

There is not a massive difference between attending a lecture in person and over skype, she could even ask questions and participate in discussion. It's actually even more likely she can sit through the entire presentation because she won't have to leave the room if the baby cries, she can just turn off her microphone.

Buffy - and you could work every other weekend ;)

Isn't her funding contract linked to her attendance. I think if you allow the baby in lectures and seminars then she has to attend them all if she is not ill. You can't give her the option to pick and choose, as well as bending the rules to allow her to attend. If she is unable to attend then she will have to consider part time or postponing her studies, IMO.

if the university has a nursery why doesnt she use it? why is she not providing childcare instead of taking the child to class? it is impossible to listen and give a lecture your full attention and look after a baby at the same time.

I don't see any harm in distance learning for a couple months. Millions of people do entire courses online.

As I said, she may prefer that option anyway.

Procrastreation you seem fixated on this- are you the mother?!

I've never heard a piercing clink

The issue is that babies are not always quiet! Mine had the uncanny ability to make a noise precisely at the wrong times. It is completely contradictory to say that attendance is compulsory and that you can leave part-way through.

I have had 4 babies who were pretty high needs.

A sling next to my chest with the occasional quiet suckle was their bliss place. I could reliant take any of them anywhere like that.

I think 99 times out of 100 the student will be able to benefit from the lecture.

I agree, Eleanor. If the presentation is so important that she has to be there in person, then saying she'll leave if the baby fusses sort of defeats the purpose.

My friend's newborn vomited copiously after every feed. My own son grunted like a pig when he napped! these are not small distractions.

What is the actual aim here? It's not bringing a newborn to class -- the aim is for the mother to complete her education. There are ways for her to do that, thanks to technology, that have zero chance of distracting other students from learning, and may even make things easier for her.

Yes - but study by Skype is very isolating. The option is nice - the insistence isn't.

I'm failing to see an issue if even twenty babies come to a lecture. (presumably not everyone has a tiny baby!). It would create a critical mass of support, and, yes, it might trigger a drop in crèche in due course - but while the babies are small, quiet & slinged they make no more trouble than an adult.

(p.s. how about piercings? They attract attention and an clink annoyingly. Should they be barred from lectures?)

I don't understand the scenario really. If these presentations are so vital, then the suggestion that she just leaves if the baby fusses isn't really an option.

You can't rely on a newborn to be quiet.

It's not that 'special'.

Anyone making a disturbance will be expected to leave, and asked to do so if the interruption persists, possibly with consequences for their long term participation in the course.

Exits must be kept clear, and bulky personal possessions should be stowed where appropriate.

These apply to all students - you don't need 'special' rules for mums. The arguments on this thread can be equally applied to disability, race and gender.

I think it would be kinder to explore some technological solutions -- skyping, podcasts, videos, etc. These are all relatively easy these days.

Life with a newborn is not always easy, your student may be shattered from sleep deprivation, have trouble navigating public transport, classtime might be baby naptime, etc and so on. Having the classes recorded in some way so she can access them when her schedule allows would be nice, I think. Also it may be less stressful than sitting through a mandatory presentation worrying your baby will cry and you'll have to leave.

On top of which, you don't have to worry about distracting the other students.

Peggy, of course OP will need to do a risk assessment and think about fire evacuation, but I can't see it realistically being a problem - a baby in a sling is about as portable as it gets.
People used to use 'fire risk' as an excuse to exclude people with disabilities and thank goodness we've moved on front that. If the logistic issues around evacuating people with mobility issues can be worked out then a baby should be a doddle.