Religious Accommodation Request Process

The Â鶹app makes good faith efforts to provide reasonable religious accommodations to students, faculty, and staff whose sincerely held religious beliefs conflict with university policies, procedures, or academic requirements unless doing so would create an undue hardship or fundamentally alter the university’s mission or operations.

Reasonable Accommodations

Students, faculty, and staff may request accommodations to support religious observance or practice.  These may include:

For Students:

  • Rescheduling exams or assignments
  • Excused absences for religious holidays
  • Meal plan exemptions for dietary restrictions
  • Access to private prayer space
  • Dress code modifications or exemptions
  • Student vaccination exemptions (based on sincerely held beliefs) after admission

For Employees:

  • Time off for religious observance
  • Shift changes or swaps
  • Dress code exemptions
  • Access to private location for prayer
  • Vaccination exemptions (based on sincerely held beliefs)

Students and employees who anticipate being absent from work or class because of a religious holiday or observance should submit their request for time off in advance.

Accommodation Request Process

  1. Students or employees should complete the to initiate the process. Requests must relate to a sincerely held religious belief or practice.
  2. The Civil Rights & Equity Office reviews the requests for accommodations on a case-by-case basis and may follow up with the requestor for clarification or documentation.
  3. A staff member from the Civil Rights and Equity Office may meet with the requester to better understand the adjustments that may be reasonable to accommodation the religious practice or observance.
  4. The Civil Rights and Equity Office will coordinate with relevant campus partners about the request. For students this might mean faculty, advisors, and departments to implement academic adjustments. For employees this might mean Human Resources and supervisors to modify work schedules or duties.
  5. The Civil Rights and Equity Office evaluates the request based on the individual’s needs and the essential functions of their role or coursework. Accommodations must not cause undue hardship, such as significant disruption or cost, or significantly alter the requirements or learning outcomes for the course.
  6. A formal letter is sent via email indicating whether the request is approved or denied. If approved, the letter outlines the specific accommodations and is shared with relevant parties (HR, supervisor, advisor, etc.).
  7. Faculty and supervisors are expected to implement accommodations in good faith. CREO remains available to adjust accommodations if needs change or to resolve any issues that arise.