Student Religious Accommodation Policy

  1. In accordance with Section Utah Code 53B-27-405, students may request reasonable accommodations for sincerely held religious beliefs, practices, or observances.
  2. Point of Contact: The Vice President of Student Affairs will serve as the point of contact for information regarding student religious accommodation requests.
  3. Process
    1. Students wishing to request a religious accommodation shall complete the Religious Accommodation Request Form at least 2 weeks prior to the event.
    2. The student may request a religious accommodation for reasons of:
      1. The students faith or conscious; or
      2. The student’s participation in an organized activity conducted under the auspices of the student’s religious tradition or religious organization
    3. The Vice President of Student Affairs or their designee may communicate with the student or faculty to gather information regarding the request.
    4. The Vice President of Student Affairs or their designee will evaluate the submission and determine whether to approve or deny the request. In evaluating the request, the Vice President of Student Affairs or their designee will consider the requirements of this Policy and whether attendance or other academic requirements would create an Undue Hardship. This analysis includes taking into consideration fundamental academic and other requirements of the College.
    5. Faculty Members shall adhere to approved accommodations.
    6. Accommodations provided shall not adversely impact a student’s academic opportunities.
    7. The faculty member shall, to the extent necessary to accomplish the requested accommodation, keep confidential the student’s request for accommodation and any related information.
  4. Grievance Procedure: Students that believe their request for a reasonable accommodation for their sincerely held religious belief was unfairly reviewed and/or denied may file a grievance by following the process outlined in the Student Grievance Rule.
  5. Definitions
    1.  Sincerely Held Religious Belief: a religious, non-religious, theistic, or nontheistic moral or ethical belief.
    2. Reasonable accommodation: a schedule modification of an examination or academic requirement because of the student’s faith, conscience, or participation in an organized activity under the student’s religious tradition or religious organization.

Approval/Amendment Dates: September 26, 2024.