Religious Accommodations for Students

HB 923 (2023) Policy Requirements:

Religious Accommodations Policy
Each public institution of higher education must adopt a written policy that provides reasonable academic accommodations for students to practice sincerely held faith-based or religious beliefs. Md. Code Ann., Educ. § 15-136. The policy must (1) provide an accommodation for a student, including excused absences, for a student to observe faith-based or religious holidays or participate in organized religious activities; (2) provide that a student be allowed reasonable alternative accommodations for missing an examination or other academic requirements due to an excused absence for a student to observe faith-based or religious holidays or participate in organized religious activities; and (3) include a grievance procedure to report noncompliance with the policy. Each public institution of higher education must post the policy prominently on its website. Except for the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC), each public institution of higher education must also provide a space on campus to accommodate faith-based or religious practices.

Policy:

Chesapeake College is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for its students’ religious and spiritual identities so they do not experience adverse academic consequences based upon a student’s sincerely held religious or spiritual beliefs or observances that conflict with academic requirements.

Procedure:

A student may be absent, including excused absences, for a student to observe faith-based or religious holidays or participate in organized religious activities.
Students must notify faculty at least one week before absences or missed academic deadlines related to observing faith-based or religious holidays or participating in organized religious activities unless there is an unexpected occurrence. [Students are encouraged to review the calendar for all holidays/holy days at the beginning of each semester and to make accommodation requests as early as possible.]
Faculty shall provide a student with reasonable alternative accommodations for missing an examination or other academic requirements due to an excused absence for a student to observe faith-based or religious holidays or participate in organized religious activities if the student’s sincerely held faith-based or religious belief or practice affects the student’s ability to take an examination as scheduled or meet any other academic requirement.
Students who need to report noncompliance with the policy, or appeal a faculty decision should refer to the Academic Grievance Policy on how to address concerns related to reasonable accommodations.

Space for Religious Practices:

Reflection Space: Chesapeake College offers a quiet and secure space reserved for lactation, meditation, and prayer to all students who wish to utilize it located in the LRC.