Best Practices for Faculty on Religious Accommodations

This tip is expanding on information from the Dean of Faculty’s Monday message from September 30, 2024 at 1:07 pm.

Students may contact you requesting religious accommodations. NY State Law requires reasonable accommodations. The Office of Spirituality and Meaning Making maintains a calendar of major religious holidays and is available for consultation. Reasonable accommodations typically mean:

• An accommodation request at least 2 weeks in advance if possible
• Making a good faith effort to work out a solution with the student
• A reasonable deadline adjustment
• A reasonable make-up assignment or exam if necessary
• Limited time extensions. It does not require permitting an extensive absence or deadline adjustments extended for weeks

Avoiding major religious holidays for exams and important deadlines or offering make-ups or alternatives which can reduce the number of requests

Provided by the Cornell Office of Spirituality and Meaning-Making

1.  Understand your role
   Familiarize yourself with the relevant sections of the Faculty Handbook and New York
   State Law. Students request reasonable accommodation. Faculty work in good faith
   with students to determine reasonable accommodation. OSMM and CURW chaplains
   are available to advise and consult, but we do not grant accommodations.
2. Inclusive language in your syllabus
   We offer the following language as a model. Adapt if your class has a specific procedure
   to request accommodation.
   Cornell University is committed to supporting students who practice their religious
   beliefs. Please discuss religious absences with me well in advance of the religious
   holiday, preferably early in the semester, but at least two weeks before the observance,
   so we can arrange and schedule a reasonable alternative. The Office of Spirituality and
   Meaning-Making (OSMM) maintains a religious accommodation website with valuable
   information, including a sample email to request accommodation. If you have any
   questions, you may contact Joel Harter, Associate Dean of Students for Spirituality and
   Meaning-Making, or the Office of the Dean of Faculty.
   3. Calendar of holidays and observances
   Review OSMM’s Calendar of Religious Holidays and familiarize yourself with those that
   may fall during your class or exam times. Consider whether any scheduling changes
   can be made proactively to minimize the need for accommodations.
   4. Share your policy in class
   Verbally share the policy in your first class session, reminding students that they need
   to approach you well in advance to request accommodations.
   5. Seek understanding
   Seek to understand the needs of students who request reasonable accommodation for
   religious observance. Keep in mind that there is a wide variety of practices even within
   the same religious tradition. OSMM and CURW chaplains are available resources.
   6. Reasonable accommodation
   A reasonable accommodation is not always the student’s preferred accommodation.
   For example, it may not be possible to accommodate extended absences for
   observance and/or travel that last several days.