Kent State University faculty and staff who are nursing mothers now have the option of using a lactation room. Kent State University at Salem and Kent State University at East Liverpool have designated lactation rooms on campus.  The room at Salem is located in the Main Building, room 190. The room at East Liverpool is located in the Mary Patterson Building, room 101-B.

The resource for new mothers is part of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (the federal health care reform law). The legislation requires employers to provide nursing mothers with reasonable break time to express breast milk for the first year following the birth of a child. A room must also be provided to express milk and the room must be shielded from view, free from intrusion by co-workers and the public and cannot be a bathroom. Each room has a table and chair and some locations also have a small refrigerator.

Use of the lactation rooms is optional for nursing moms. While the federal legislation does not require employers to pay employees for the time spent nursing, Kent State employees are permitted to use break and lunch time for this purpose. Additional, reasonable breaks will be permitted as needed.  Employees who wish to use one of the rooms should call the phone number listed for that location prior to your first visit, to make arrangements and determine a schedule.

Kent State University at Salem is also a lactation support campus. Mrs. Mullen offers free lactation consults to all students and staff who are breastfeeding. A free class is also available for KSU students and staff who are moms-to-be and plan to breastfeed or are undecided regarding their feeding choice.

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Salem Contact:
Ruth Ann Mullen, RN, IBCLC
rmullen@kent.edu  

East Liverpool Contact:
330-382-7425