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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.
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 January 2020 by which students are to request accommodation due to a religious or spiritual observance.
Mid-terms, Tests, Labs and Other Course Work
All accommodation requests for mid-terms, tests, labs or course work are to be directed to and addressed by the course instructor.
Student Obligations
- Alert instructor within two weeks of the start of term of any scheduling conflicts by submitting the Student Request for Accommodation for Religious Observances form.
- If the requested absence occurs within the first two weeks of the term or the dates are not known well in advance, alert 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.
Final Exams
All 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).
Student Obligations
- As per existing regulations, within one week of the announcement of the examination schedule, submit the Student Request for Accommodation for Religious Observances form. The form will be automatically submitted to the relevant Petitions Committee.
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 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 Dispute Resolution and Sexual Violence Support, 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.