Indiana respects the observance of religious holidays and will make reasonable accommodation, upon request, for such observances. Consult the sections below for specifics.
In accordance with IU policy, any student who is unable to attend classes or participate in any examination, study, or work requirement on some particular day or days due to religious beliefs or observances must be given the opportunity to make up the work that was missed or to do alternative work that is intrinsically no more difficult than the original exam or assignment.
The instructor and the student should discuss what a reasonable accommodation would represent. This could be the same work with a different due date, or a substantially similar exercise at another time. However, any accommodation that is mutually agreeable to both student and faculty member is acceptable.
Requests for accommodation for religious observance must be made in writing and returned to the instructor no later than two weeks prior to the anticipated absence.
In accordance with IU policy, any student who is unable to attend classes or participate in any examination, study, or work requirement on some particular day or days due to religious beliefs or observances must be given the opportunity to make up the work that was missed or to do alternative work that is intrinsically no more difficult than the original exam or assignment.
Students seeking accommodation for religious observances must make a request in writing by the end of the 2nd week of the semester, or equivalent for nonsemester length courses, to the course instructor and must use the Request for Course Accommodation Due to Religious Observance Form.
The instructor and the student should discuss what a reasonable accommodation would represent. This could be the same work with a different due date, or a substantially similar exercise at another time. However, any accommodation that is mutually agreeable to both student and faculty member is acceptable.
In the case of religious holidays for which the date may change, the student should state the approximate date and when the exact date is known, inform the instructor of the exact date. It is appropriate to grant accommodations for a few hours after the holiday if the observance includes fasting.
If after discussion the instructor and student cannot agree on an accommodation, either or both should seek the advice of the senior associate vice chancellor for academic affairs.
In accordance with IU policy, departments are encouraged to reasonably accommodate an employee's request to observe a religious observance or practice by one of the following methods:
- Changing the employee's work schedule, or
- Permitting the employee to take accrued time off.
- Non-Exempt (excluding PAO and PAU) staff may take vacation time, income protection time, and compensatory time, subject to the respective time off policy’s usage guidelines.
- Exempt staff and Non-Exempt Non-Union PAO and PAU staff may use accumulated PTO; Non-Exempt Non-Union PAO and PAU staff may also use compensatory time.
- Non-Exempt (including PAO and PAU) staff may also be permitted to use absence without pay, without benefit accrual subject to supervisory approval.
IU also offers a bonus “floating holiday” for certain employees.
For additional assistance, contact Jamie Greig at jgreigii@iu.edu.