SS 8.01pr - Absence for Reasons of Faith or Conscience : Student Requests

• Students must coordinate an absence request with the Office of the Vice President for Student Services within the first two weeks of the beginning of the course using the Student Absence for Reasons of Faith or Conscience form. All requests for authorized absences under this policy must be in writing and contain a concise explanation of how the requested absence/holiday is related to a reason of faith or conscience or an organized activity conducted under the auspices of a religious denomination, church, or religious organization.
• All absences under this policy must be approved by the Office of the Vice President for Student Services in advance of the absence. The college will not authorize an absence for a student after the absence occurs unless warranted by compelling circumstances.
• The Office of the Vice President for Student Services will provide the student with a document verifying the date of the approved absence and further instructions. In order to ensure that their absence does not negatively affect their grades, the student must comply with directions for notifying instructors of the upcoming authorized absence. The student is solely responsible for ensuring the documentation authorizing the absence is provided to each of the instructors whose classes or assignments will be affected by the absence.
• After the instructor is notified by the student of an upcoming absence, the instructor will determine what adjustments, if any, will need to be made regarding examinations or other activities. The instructor shall inform the student of these adjustments within three business days of receiving the student’s notification.
• If the student’s desired absence date is on a day when a test was scheduled or an assignment was due, the instructor may require that the student take the test or submit the assignment before or after the regularly scheduled date.
• Regardless of the instructor’s class expectations or grading policies, absences authorized under this policy shall not adversely impact a student’s grade.
• If a student fails to notify any of their instructors of an authorized absence (as directed by the Office of the Vice President for Student Services), the instructor is not obligated to make any accommodations for the student’s absence or treat the absence as authorized under this policy or the law.
• The college will provide faculty with language to include in their syllabi and the policy and associated procedures will be posted on the college website. 
• Students who have concerns about approval or a grade impact may utilize the student grievance procedure (SS 5.01pr) for concerns not directly related to grades, or to the grade appeal process in cases impacting a final grade.

SS 8.0 Absence for Reasons of Faith or Conscience

SOURCE INFORMATION
RCW 1.16.050(3) Legal holidays and legislatively recognized days

RCW 28B.137.010: Reasonable accommodation for religious holidays

CONTENT OWNER. The primary responsibility for this policy belongs to:
Vice President for Student Services

PRIMARY CONTENT CONTRIBUTOR (Director/Dean)
Vice President for Student Services

REVIEW PERIOD
Three years.

REVIEW HISTORY
2019-Sep 16  Amended and Approved by President’s Leadership Team

2015-Mar 02  Adopted