RELIGIOUSACCOMMODATIONSat KUMC
August 2017
Background & Purpose
Accommodations have been provided informally for students and employees, but with no real institutional policy or guidance.Initiative began on Lawrence campus Fall 2016.Given the unique needs of the KUMC campus, free-standing KUMC policy more appropriate.Robert Klein, Vice Chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs, formed a workgroup comprised of faculty, staff and administrators from the three schools to draft a Religious Accommodation Policy and procedures.Providesformal parameters and a procedure for individuals to request accommodations when theirsincerely held religious beliefs, practices or observances interfere or conflict with employment or academic policies, practices or requirements.
Policy Highlights
LEARNERSTheUniversity will make reasonable efforts to accommodate timely requests for absences associated with religiousneeds.A learner mayrequest to be excused from participating in specific health care and/or research procedures or other educational experiences where such care or experiences presents a conflict with thelearner’sreligiousbeliefs.Learners are still responsible for the knowledge of such procedures or educational experiences.
Policy Highlights
UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEESTheUniversity will make reasonable efforts to accommodate an employee’s requests for absences which may include allowing flexible arrival or departure times, providing floating or optional holidays, allowing flexible work breaks, considering schedule substitutions with colleagues of substantially similar qualifications, or providing other reasonable adjustments to their regular work hours.Anemployee may request to be relieved from participating in an aspect of a patient’s care or treatment in situations where the prescribed care or treatment presents a conflict with the employee’s religious beliefs.
Policy Highlights
RELIGIOUS ATTIRE, GROOMING, PRAYER AND OTHER PRACTICESThe University will make reasonable efforts to accommodate requests for specific religious attire, dress or grooming, quiet spaces or time for prayer, or to engage in other religious practices that are a requirement of religious observance.
Procedure
Accommodation requests will be submitted online through a link that can be provided on syllabi, employee resource websites and other relevant websites.https://form.jotform.us/71005615090142
Procedure
Syllabi
SAMPLE LANGUAGE FOR SYLLABIKUMedical Center respects the religious diversity of its students and will make good faith efforts to provide reasonable religious accommodations for the sincerely held religious beliefs, practices or observances of its students when they conflict with University policy or procedure.Suchaccommodations must not fundamentally affect the University’s mission or commitment to patient care or otherwise create an undue hardship. If you wish to submit a request for religious accommodations, please complete this online form.https://form.jotform.us/71005615090142
Questions?
NatalieHolick, JDDirector, Equal Opportunity Officenholick@kumc.eduRobert Klein, PhDVice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairsrklein@kumc.edu
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