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Accommodations for Religious Observances
Wilfrid Laurier University is committed to respecting the religious beliefs and practices of all members of the university community and has a duty to provide accommodation based on creed (religion) under the Ontario Human Rights Code. This obligation requires the university to work with students to provide reasonable accommodation when a student’s religious observances or spiritual beliefs creates a conflict with their academic schedule and subsequent ability to meet the academic requirements of the course as presented in the course outline. Accommodations will be provided for scheduled religious observances that occur on specific dates. However, accommodations will not be provided for observances that can be observed at any time within a broader timeframe, as students can schedule these observances around their academic commitments.
Developing accommodations is a shared responsibility. Students need to work with their instructors and university staff to address accommodation requirements. The following outlines the process effective September 2024 by which students are to request accommodation due to a religious or spiritual observance. This is also outlined in the Undergraduate Academic Calendar and Graduate Academic Calendar.
- Undergraduate UG Click this tab to view content pertaining to Under Graduates
- Graduate GRAD Click this tab to view content pertaining to Graduates
Tests, Labs, Mid-terms, and Other Course Work
Student Obligations & Deadlines
- Undergraduate students submit the Student Request for Accommodation for Religious Observances form.
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The deadline to request a religious accommodation for a test, lab, mid-term, or other course work that is identified on the syllabus is:
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one term (i.e. Fall, Winter, Spring) and full-year courses: Must be submitted on or before 14 days after the start of term.
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6-week courses: Must be submitted on or before 7 days after the start of term.
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All accommodation requests for tests, labs, mid-terms, or other course work are to be directed to and addressed by the course instructor, with the exception of Lazaridis School of Business and Economics mid-terms, which are directed and addressed by the Lazaridis Petitions Coordinator.
If the requested absence occurs within the first two weeks of the start of term a one term (i.e. Fall, Winter, Spring) or full-year courses, or within the first week of the start of the term for 6-week courses, or if the dates are not known well in advance, undergraduate students need to alert the instructor as soon as scheduling conflicts arise by completing the Student Request for Accommodation for Religious Observances form, which should be submitted within one week of identification of such conflict.
Requests received by the deadline, that are approved, will be granted a deferred in-term test or midterm (or equivalent), to be scheduled and administered by the instructor or as per faculty procedures (if applicable). Re-allocating the weight of the in-term test or midterm to the final exam or an assessment(s) listed in the course syllabus is not an acceptable accommodation for requests received by the deadline.
Final Exams
Student Obligations & Deadlines
- Undergraduate students submit the Student Request for Accommodation for Religious Observances form. The form will be automatically submitted to the relevant Petitions Committee.
- Submit the form only after the exam schedule has been posted and an accommodation need has been identified.
- The deadline to request an undergraduate final examination deferral is 7 calendar days before the final day of classes of the term.
All undergraduate accommodation requests for final exams are directed to and addressed by the Faculty Petitions Committee for the Faculty of the course (i.e. not the student’s “home” Faculty), through the Student Request for Accommodation for Religious Observances form.
Deferral requests on religious grounds do not count towards the maximum of 5 exam deferrals that are permitted. Deferral requests received by the deadline, that are approved, will not be charged a deferred examination fee, and the exam will be scheduled by the Faculty that owns the course on a designated slip day.
Tests, Labs, Mid-terms, and Other Course Work
Student Obligations & Deadlines
- Graduate students complete the Request for Religious Accommodation or Extension to Complete Coursework form.
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The deadline to request a religious accommodation for a test, lab, mid-term, or other course work that is identified on the syllabus is:
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13-week (i.e. Fall, Winter, Spring) and full-year courses: Must be submitted on or before 14 days after the start of term.
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6-week courses: Must be submitted on or before 7 days after the start of term.
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All accommodation requests for tests, labs, mid-terms, or other course work are to be directed to and addressed by the course instructor (through the Request for Religious Accommodation or Extension to Complete Coursework form).
If the requested absence occurs within the first two weeks of the start of term a one term (i.e. Fall, Winter, Spring) or full-year courses, or within the first week of the start of the term for 6-week courses, or if the dates are not known well in advance, graduate students need to alert the instructor as soon as scheduling conflicts arise by completing the Request for Religious Accommodation or Extension to Complete Coursework form, which should be submitted within one week of identification of such conflict.
Requests received by the deadline, that are approved, will be granted a deferred in-term test or midterm (or equivalent), to be scheduled and administered by the instructor or as per faculty procedures (if applicable). Re-allocating the weight of the in-term test or midterm to the final exam or an assessment(s) listed in the course syllabus is not an acceptable accommodation for requests received by the deadline.
Final Exams
Student Obligations & Deadlines
- Graduate students complete the Request for Religious Accommodation or Extension to Complete Coursework form.
- Submit the form only after the exam schedule has been posted and an accommodation need has been identified.
- The deadline to request a graduate final examination deferral is 14 calendar days before the final day of classes of the term.
All graduate accommodation requests for final exams are directed to and addressed by the Faculty Petitions Committee for the Faculty of the course.
Deferral requests received by the deadline, that are approved, will not be charged a deferred examination fee, and the exam will be scheduled to be completed before the end of the current semester.
Frequently Asked Questions
Each university and college will have its own process for addressing religious accommodation. The Student Request for Accommodation for Religious Observances form (undergradaute) and the Completion of Course Work regulations (gradaute) is the Laurier process. For courses you are taking at another university or college toward your Laurier degree, follow up with the faculty member for the course and check to see if there is information available online.
Supports and advice are available through the Centre for Student Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Indigenous Student Centre and the Office of Human Rights and Conflict Management, which provides facilitation of the resolution of discrimination and harassment complaints. Under the process set out in the academic calendar, a student may appeal to the appropriate faculty petitions committee any decision taken by an individual or body acting in the name of the university, which affects the academic standing of the student, and which the student believes was taken unfairly. Petitions should be to the faculty petitions committee for the course (i.e. may not be your home faculty).
You should follow up with the instructor. If after two weeks you still do not get a response from the instructor, please contact with the dean’s office in the faculty of the course you are requesting accommodation for (i.e. may not be your home faculty).
Laurier will make every effort to accommodate the date of religious observance and reasonable travel time. This does not include travel time for your convenience (e.g. carpooling) and typically only extends to the evening before and morning after the religious observance.
You should coordinate absences for any reason with your placement location. If accommodation is required, you may submit the form listing your placement coordinator as the instructor. For co-op placements, you should notify your employer of the need for accommodation.
Accommodations for religious observances that can be completed on an alternate date will not be approved. If your faith allows for flexibility in choosing the date of observance, you need to select a time that does not conflict with academic responsibilities.
Events like weddings or funerals, which are not formal religious observances, are not covered under the religious accommodations process. Instead, you should address such requests through the petitions process.