Religious Accommodations Policy

Op1.02-1 Religious Accommodations Policy

Policy Statement

Missouri State University is a community of people with respect for diversity. The University emphasizes the dignity and equality common to all persons and adheres to a strict non-discrimination policy regarding the treatment of individual faculty, staff, and students. In accord with federal law and applicable Missouri statutes, the University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin (including ancestry, or any other subcategory of national origin recognized by applicable law), religion, sex (including marital status, family status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other subcategory of sex recognized by applicable law), age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law in employment or in any program or activity offered or sponsored by the University. Sex discrimination encompasses sexual harassment, which includes sexual violence, and is strictly prohibited by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.

This policy shall not be interpreted in a manner as to violate the legal rights of religious organizations or of military organizations associated with the Armed Forces of the United States of America.

The University maintains a grievance procedure incorporating due process available to any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against. Missouri State University is an Equal Opportunity employer. Inquiries concerning the complaint/grievance procedure related to discrimination on the basis of a protected class, including sexual harassment and sexual assault, or compliance with federal and state laws and guidelines, should be addressed to the Director, Office for Institutional Compliance, Carrington Hall 205, 901 S. National Ave., Springfield, Missouri 65897, Compliance@MissouriState.edu, 417-836-4252.

Procedures for Religious Accommodations

The University may provide a reasonable accommodation based on a person's sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance if there is a conflict with a work requirement, policy, or practice. In making this determination, the University reviews a variety of factors, including whether the accommodation would create an undue hardship. The accommodation request imposes responsibilities and obligations on both the individual requesting the accommodation and the University. The person requesting the accommodation is obligated to make the University aware of the need for a religious accommodation in advance.  Forms needed for students and faculty to request religious accommodations may be found here.

Once a request is made, the University will engage in the interactive process to explore reasonable accommodations to address the person’s religious belief, practice, or observance unless, again, the request creates an undue hardship. The person requesting the accommodation is obligated to cooperate with the University’s attempts to accommodate the request.

Staff and faculty members may request an accommodation based on their sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance by contacting the University’s Deputy Compliance Officer,  Office of Legal Affairs & Compliance, 417-836-4252 (voice); 711 or 800-735-2966 (Relay Missouri); DeputyComplianceOfficer@MissouriState.edu.

Students who expect to miss classes, examinations, or other assignments as a consequence of their sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance shall be provided with a reasonable alternative opportunity to complete such academic responsibilities.  It is the obligation of students to provide faculty with reasonable notice of the dates of religious observances on which they will be absent by submitting a Request for Religious Accommodation Form to the instructor by the end of the third week of a full semester or the end of the second week of a half semester course.  The student and faculty member should discuss the reasonable accommodation and come to an agreement as to a reasonable accommodation.

The instructor and the student should discuss what a reasonable accommodation should include in a given case. Students who are absent on days of examinations or class assignments shall be offered an opportunity to make up the work, without penalty, unless it can be demonstrated that a makeup opportunity would constitute an undue hardship. The student must be given the opportunity to do appropriate make-up work that is intrinsically no more difficult than the original exam or assignment.

Absence from classes or examinations for religious reasons does not relieve students from responsibility for any part of the course work required during the period of absence. The instructor may also appropriately respond if the student fails to satisfactorily complete any alternative assignment or examination.

If the instructor and student agree on the accommodation, the plan should be carried out. If the instructor and the student are unable to come to a consensus on the accommodation, either party or both should seek the advice of the department head.

Students may also request an accommodation based on their sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance by contacting the University’s Deputy Compliance Officer,  Office of Legal Affairs & Compliance, 417-836-4252 (voice); 711 or 800-735-2966 (Relay Missouri); DeputyComplianceOfficer@MissouriState.edu. Faculty members who become aware that a student may need a religious accommodation should direct the student to the Deputy Compliance Officer or contact the Deputy Compliance Officer directly.