Policy Author:
Student Affairs
Responsible Office/Department:
Student Affairs
Effective Date of Policy:
August 18, 2022
Policy Narrative
Daemen University prohibits discrimination on the basis of religion and is committed to providing a work environment that respects the religious beliefs and practices of all students. As part of that commitment, the University will make good faith efforts to fulfill a requested accommodation for such observances when a reasonable accommodation is available that does not create an undue hardship for the University.
Requesting a Religious Accommodation
A student who anticipates being absent from work or class because of religious beliefs or practices that conflict with their job, class schedule, or a Daemen University policy or practice on dress and appearance to their supervisor or instructor/faculty member in charge of the course. Students are asked to examine the academic calendar and/or course syllabus for potential conflicts at the start of the semester and promptly notify the supervisor and/or instructor in writing of any anticipated accommodation needs, providing as much notice as possible, clearly specifying the reason for the requested absence or other accommodation. Students are responsible for arranging in advance to make up missed work or material in a timely manner.
Providing Religious Accommodation
Reasonable accommodations are determined on an individual basis and depend on the circumstances. They might include rescheduling an exam or giving the student a make-up exam, allowing an individual or group presentation to be made on a different date, letting a student attend a different discussion section for the same class that week, adjusting a due date, or assigning the student appropriate make-up work that is intrinsically no more difficult than the original assignment.
Supervisors and instructors are expected to reasonably accommodate individual religious practices. A refusal to accommodate is justified only when undue hardship to the University’s legitimate business purposes would result from each available alternative for reasonable accommodation.
The University prohibits retaliation against students requesting religious accommodation, participating in an approved accommodation, or otherwise engaging in protected conduct under this policy. Any person who violates this anti-retaliation provision may be subject to disciplinary and/or corrective action. Students who believe that they have been retaliated against or not accommodated appropriately should contact the EEO Officer/Daemen University Center for Diversity and Inclusion and/or the Director of Employee Engagement.
Purpose for Policy
To create and maintain an equitable environment where students have the optimal opportunity to succeed academically, personally, and professionally and where any and all Daemen University Community members feel safe, valued, and respected.
This policy’s virtual location ishttps://www.daemen.edu/student-life/student-affairs/student-handbook/section-5-general-university-policies