Student Religious Observances
Moraine Valley Community College
does not discriminate against students based on religious observance and will
reasonably accommodate the religious observance of individual students in
regard to admissions, class attendance, and the scheduling of examinations and
work requirements. It is the responsibility of the student to notify his or her
instructors of any absences necessitated by religious observance, in accordance
with the following procedure:
1.
A student who anticipates that he or
she will be unable, because of his or her religious observance, to attend class
or to participate in any examination, study, or work requirement on a
particular day, must notify his or her instructors and/or supervisors in writing
as soon as possible, but no later than by the end of the second week of class.
2.
Upon receipt of such written
notification, it is the responsibility of each faculty member and/or supervisor
to provide the student with an opportunity to make up any examination, study,
or work requirement the student may miss due to the absence.
3.
An absence due to religious
observance does not relieve a student from responsibility for any part of the
course work required during the period of absence. As religious holiday
calendars are available in advance of each semester, faculty may insist, where
feasible, that a student complete any course work or examination(s) prior to
the anticipated absence. In addition, faculty policies regarding course
attendance vary widely; students are responsible for knowing these policies and
for communicating any anticipated absences for religious observance to each of
their instructors.
4.
A student who believes that he or
she has been denied reasonable accommodations in accordance with Board Policy
4610 or this procedure should first express his or her concerns to the
instructor or supervisor and try to resolve the situation informally. If the
situation is not resolved informally, the student may appeal in writing to the
faculty member’s dean, using the Academic Complaint form that is available in
any academic subdivision office or on the MVConnect portal.
This procedure complies with the University
Religious Observance Act, which reads, in part:
Any student in an institution of higher
learning, other than a religious or denominational institution of higher
learning, who is unable, because of his or her religious beliefs, to attend
class or to participate in any examination, study, or work requirement on a
particular day shall be excused from any such examination, study, or work
requirement and shall be provided with an opportunity to make up the
examination, study, or work requirement that he or she may have missed because
of such absence on a particular day; provided that the student notifies the
faculty member or instructor well in advance of any anticipated absence or a
pending conflict between a scheduled class and the religious observance and
provided that the make-up examination, study, or work does not create an
unreasonable burden upon the institution. No fees of any kind shall be charged
by the institution for making available to the student such an opportunity. No
adverse or prejudicial effects shall result to any student because of his or
her availing himself or herself of the provisions of this Section. 110 ILCS
110/1.5(b).