Colorado State University is committed to non-discrimination, diversity and inclusiveness, and to supporting its employees, regardless of religious affiliation or non-affiliation, in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations. As part of this commitment, the University makes good faith efforts to accommodate students’ and employees’ religious practices and beliefs, unless such accommodation would create undue hardship.
Religious Accommodations for Employees
Colorado State University employees may request a religious accommodation by either notifying your supervisor or contacting the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) at (970) 491-5836.
Religion includes all aspects of religious observance, practice and belief as well as moral or ethical beliefs as to what is right and wrong which are sincerely held with the strength of traditional religious views.
A reasonable religious accommodation is any adjustment to the work environment that will allow an employee to practice their religion. Breaks, flexible scheduling, voluntary substitutions or swaps, and lateral transfers are examples of accommodating an employee’s religious beliefs. Requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis to determine whether undue hardship would result from the accommodation.
An employer can claim undue hardship when asked to accommodate an employee’s religious practices if allowing such practices requires more than ordinary administrative costs, diminishes efficiency in other jobs, infringes on other employees’ job rights or benefits, impairs workplace safety, causes co-workers to carry the accommodated employee’s share of potentially hazardous or burdensome work, or if the proposed accommodation conflicts with another law or regulation.
Religious Accommodations for Students
Students seeking an exemption from attending class or completing assigned course work for a religious holiday will need to fill out the online Religious Accommodation Request form and submit it to the Division of Student Affairs.
Once turned in, the Division of Student Affairs will review the request and contact the student accordingly. If approved, the student will receive a memo from the Dean of Students to give to their professor or course instructor.
Students are asked to fill out the online request form as soon as the conflict is noticed. Similarly, unanticipated conflicts requiring a religious observance, such as a death in the family, can also be reviewed.
Students who have conflicts with the overall class schedule – such as the time and date the class is offered – are encouraged to find an alternative section for the class.
Resources
- Faith, Belief and Religious Observances
- Division of Student Affairs Religious Holidays and Student Religious Accommodation Request Form
- Student Religious Observances and Non-Discrimination Policies
- CSU Student Organizations – Category: Religious/Spiritual
- U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
- Colorado Civil Rights Division
- Anti-Defamation League: Religious Accommodation in the Workplace (PDF)
Complaint Procedures
An individual who believes their religious beliefs and/ or practices are not being accommodated or who has experienced discrimination or harassment on the basis of religion may file a complaint with the Office of Equal Opportunity, the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.