Rule 3357:10-1-17 | Testing your faith act.
(A) Marion technical college welcomes students from all backgrounds as learners. In order to reasonably accommodate all students, Marion technical college allows students to be absent up to three days each term for holidays that align with their religion, faith, or spiritual belief system, or to participate in organized activities conducted under the auspices of a religious denomination, church, or other spiritual organization (hereafter "sincerely held religious belief or practice"). Students will not receive an academic penalty as a result of an absence within the context of this policy. Instructors must accept, without question, the sincerity of a student's religious or spiritual belief system, in accordance with section 3345.026 of the Revised Code.
(B) If a student's absence affects the student's ability to take an exam or meet an academic requirement, the instructor must make accommodations for the student to complete the missed work (e.g., exam, homework) if:
(1) The student's sincerely held religious belief or practice severely affects the student's ability to take an exam or meet an academic requirement; and,
(2) The student provides the instructor with written notice of the specific dates of absence for with the student needs alternative accommodations within the first fourteen calendar days of the course.
(C) All requests for alternative accommodations to complete missed work must be kept confidential, and any alternative accommodations made should be without prejudicial treatment.
(D) Each course syllabus will include a statement regarding the college's policy on sincerely held religious beliefs or practices, which will include:
(1) Procedure for requesting alternative accommodations under this policy; and,
(2) Information on who to contact with further questions.
(E) Students who have a complaint regarding the administration of this policy may follow the college's complaint process outlined in AP 440 - "Student Complaints."
(F) The college will following the Ohio department of higher education's list of major religious holidays and festivals when administering this policy. However, please note that the list is non exhaustive and may not be used to deny alternative accommodations to a student if a religious holiday or festival does not appear on the list. The inclusion or exclusion of any religious holiday or festival on the list shall not preclude a student from receiving reasonable alternative accommodations for any sincerely held religious beliefs or practices under this policy.
Last updated September 20, 2024 at 8:31 AM
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