Arkansas State University has introduced eight lactation rooms across its Jonesboro campus, providing designated spaces for student and staff mothers to pump or express milk. The latest addition is situated inside Centennial Bank Stadium, one of several locations equipped with private, comfortable environments for lactation.
Tiffany N. Mosley, the university’s institutional integrity and Title IX manager, explained the goal behind the initiative. "We don’t want students to have to worry about whether or not they’re going to have to miss class to pump or miss an exam,” Mosley said. “We don’t want them to miss anything important because they have to find somewhere to express their milk."
While the lactation spaces are primarily intended for Arkansas State students and employees, they are also available to guests who sign up for access. According to Mosley, the program aims to alleviate the challenges parenting students and staff often face. "We are removing barriers for our parenting students," she said. "We’re removing barriers for our parenting employees. We want them, again, to feel welcome and feel like they are included in the thought processes that go behind the scenes for welcoming them."
The spaces feature seating areas and nearby water sources to support visitors comfortably. Newer facilities, such as those at Centennial Bank Stadium and the College of Veterinary Medicine, were designed with lactation needs in mind and include additional amenities like changing tables.
For information on how to register as a guest or to view a complete list of lactation room locations, visit the Office of Institutional Integrity and Title IX’s website.