Absence For Observation Of
Religious Holidays
Legislation has been enacted which requires public institutions of higher education to adopt a policy which reasonably accommodates the religious observance of individual students in regard to admissions, class attendance, and the scheduling of examinations and work requirements. If you plan to take time from scheduled curriculum activities to practice your religious beliefs, it is necessary at least
six weeks prior to the date of absence, to provide the Associate Dean for Student Affairs with a written notice of intention to be absent from scheduled curriculum activities and the reasons
therefore, the proposed times and dates of absence, and the scheduled curriculum activities to be missed. The request should be submitted on forms provided by the Office of Student Affairs. The Associate Dean for Student Affairs will review the request and make a decision on whether to approve the absence.
If the requested absence is approved, the Associate Dean for Student Affairs will notify the appropriate curriculum directors of the impending absence so that you can arrange for completion of missed curriculum activities. It is your responsibility, prior to the absence, to arrange to make up any curricular activities missed, with the time and manner to be negotiated with appropriate faculty.
Grievance Procedure
If you believe you have been unreasonably denied an educational benefit due to your religious beliefs or practices, you may file a grievance. This grievance must be submitted in writing to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs within five days of the alleged denial of an educational benefit. The written grievance must be signed by you and should contain a complete statement of the facts and circumstances surrounding the alleged denial of an educational benefit. The Associate Dean for Student Affairs will review the grievance and render a written decision within ten calendar days of receipt of the grievance.
If you feel the grievance is not satisfactorily resolved at the level of the Associate Dean for Student Affairs, you should submit the grievance in writing to the Dean of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine within three calendar days of receipt of the decision by the Associate Dean for Student Affairs. The Dean will review the grievance and render a written decision within 15 calendar days of receipt of the written grievance.
If you feel that the grievance is not satisfactorily resolved at the level of the Dean, you then must submit the grievance in writing to the President of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale within five calendar days of receipt of the decision of the Dean. A copy of all previous written decisions in the matter will be forwarded to the President by you. The Office of the President will review the facts and circumstances surrounding the alleged denial of an educational benefit and render a decision in writing within 15 calendar days of receipt of the grievance.
Any further appeal is strictly governed by the applicable Bylaws, Statutes, and Policies of the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University.
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