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RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY ABSENCE POLICY


It is the policy of Miami Regional University for students and faculty to work together to allow students the opportunity to observe the holy days of his or her faith. A student should inform the faculty member of the religious observances of his or her faith that will conflict with class attendance, with tests or examinations, or with other class activities prior to the class or occurrence of that test or activity. The faculty member is then obligated to accommodate that particular student’s religious observances. Because students represent a myriad of cultures and many faiths, Miami Regional University is not able to assure that scheduled academic activities do not conflict with the holy days of all religious groups. Accordingly, individual students should make their need for an excused absence known in advance of the scheduled activities. Students should inform faculty by the end of the Drop/Add period of any potential classes that may conflict with their religious observances.

The following guidelines apply:

  1. Students, upon prior notification to their instructors, shall be excused from class or other scheduled academic activity to observe a religious holy day of their faith.

  2. Students shall be permitted a reasonable amount of time to make up the material or activities covered in their absence.

  3. Students shall not be academically penalized due to absence from class or other scheduled academic activity because of religious observances.

  4. If a faculty member is informed of or is aware that a significant number of students are likely to be absent from class because of a religious observance, the faculty member should not schedule a major exam or other academic event at that time.

  5. A student who is to be excused from class for a religious observance is not required to provide a second party certification of the reason for the absence. Furthermore, a student who believes that they have been unreasonably denied an education benefit due to religious beliefs or practices may seek redress through the student grievance procedure.