Senate Policy on Religious Accommodation for Students
Nipissing University is committed to respecting the religious beliefs and practices of all members of the university community, and making reasonable accommodations for observances of special significance to adherents.
Efforts will be made by the University to avoid scheduling in-class or formal examinations on days of major special religious significance throughout the year. Students will be informed through the Academic Calendar of procedures for requesting and arranging accommodations based on religious observance. In cases where conflicts do arise, it is the responsibility of the student to notify the University in accordance with the following procedures. Failure to do so may result in the student not being graded for any missed work.
Religious Accommodation Procedures for Students
Final Examinations
Students who, because of religious commitment, cannot write a formally scheduled examination (during the December and April examination periods) on the date scheduled, should contact the office of the Dean of the Faculty no later than three weeks prior to the start of the examination periodto initiate arranging an alternative examination date. Students must complete the Examination Accommodation form available on the University website. Students are required to, if requested to do so, present evidence concerning the religious obligations involved.
Academic Obligations other than Final Examinations
Students who, because of religious commitment, cannot meet specific academic obligations in a course (other than formally scheduled examinations during the December and April examination periods) on certain holy days, are responsible for giving their professor/instructor reasonable notice of each conflict. Such notice shall be given as soon as the conflict is known to the student and no later than 14 calendar days prior to the date of the conflict.
Accommodations may include:
- Rescheduling the evaluation that is in conflict, or
- Preparing an alternative evaluation for that particular student, or
- Recalculating the total evaluation in the course to eliminate the component that has been missed.
When the instructor and student are unable to agree on suitable accommodation, the matter will be referred to the Dean for a decision, who may request that the student present evidence concerning the religious obligations involved. The Dean will convey the decision to the instructor and student. The Dean’s decision may be appealed by the student through the Student Appeals Committee.