Religious & Faith-Based Course Accommodations

Every course at Lewis University adheres to the university policy below; the language below is included in our shared syllabus template.

Sanctified Zone
Guided by its Catholic and Lasallian heritage, Lewis University is firmly committed to fostering a campus atmosphere that is permeated by its Mission values of Fidelity, Wisdom, Knowledge, Justice, and Association.  Accordingly, we have declared the University campus to be a Sanctified Zone, a place and a people United in Diversity.  The active promotion of diversity and the opposition to all forms of prejudice and bias are a powerful and healing expression of our desire to be Signs of Faith (Signum Fidei) to each other. Learn more about the Sanctified Zone.

As a Sanctified Zone, Lewis University affirms the importance of diverse spiritual and value-based identities, worldviews, and expressions, including the observance of religious and cultural traditions. To learn more about the rich diversity of spiritual and cultural holidays celebrated within the Lewis community, please see the Interfaith Calendar. Please note that this calendar is not a designation of spiritual and cultural holidays officially recognized or observed by Lewis University; rather, it is intended as an educational resource for the Lewis community. 

Religious Accommodations: Lewis University is committed to inclusion “together and by association” on our campus and in our classrooms. At the beginning of the semester, you should carefully review this course syllabus and requirements. If you have religious or cultural observances that reasonably conflict with attendance or submission of assignments in this class, please let the instructor know as soon as possible so that alternative arrangements may be discussed at the instructor’s discretion. Instructors and students can find resources that support academic accommodations for faith-based observances on the Religious Accommodations webpage.

After reviewing the course syllabus and requirements, students are responsible for reaching out to their instructors in advance if they foresee any conflicts between the course attendance or other requirements and their own faith-based obligations. Students can use the template form below (see “resources for students”) to provide instructors with their accommodation request and relevant information.

1. If students need weekly or regular accommodations: if the course is offered in various modalities or schedules, or if alternative courses exist to fulfill the specific program requirement which this course would fulfill, students/instructors/advisors might work with their department/programs and the registrar’s office to see if the student is able to register for an alternative course or course section.
   
   
2. Conversations should first take place between individual students and their instructors. . Students can use the template form below (see “resources for students”) to provide instructors with their accommodation request and relevant information.
   
   
3. Accommodations must be reasonable; students must still be able to meet the learning objectives of the course. If accommodations would considerably impact the course delivery or learning objectives, they may not be able to be facilitated.
   
   
4. Each college has designated a faculty liaison who can help mediate discussions between students and faculty regarding faith-based, religious, or cultural accommodations. These liaisons can provide guidance, ensure communication remains constructive and solution-oriented, and connect instructors and students with the Office of Lasallian Belonging or Interfaith Cooperation Committee when additional support is needed.
   
   Faculty Liaisons:
   
   • CoHFAC: Dr. Elizabeth Sartell, esartell@lewisu.edu
     
   • CoESS: Prof. Huma Zia, ziahu@lewisu.edu
     
   • CoAST: Dr. Khaled Alzoubi, alzoubkh@lewisu.edu
     
   • CoB: Dr. Iyad Rock, irock@lewisu.edu
     
   • CoNHS: Dr. Arvie Vitente, avitente@lewisu.edu
     
   • SGPCE & St Augustine: Students and instructors for courses in the School of Graduate, Professional & Continuing Education (SGPCE) and St. Augustine College can contact either Dr. Elizabeth Sartell or Prof. Huma Zia for support.
     
     
5. If an accommodation agreement cannot be reached or if there is doubt about the feasibility of an accommodations’ effectiveness, students or instructors should first contact the faculty liaison of the college within which the specific course or faculty resides. (See list above.) Faculty liaisons will serve as the first point of review when accommodation agreements cannot be reached between students and instructors.
   
   
6. When needed, the liaison (or students or instructors) may also contact the Office of Lasallian Belonging for review and additional support. The appropriate dean’s office may also be notified of the ongoing conversation at this time. The Office of Lasallian Belonging serve as the next point of review when accommodation agreements cannot be reached between students and instructors with faculty liaison help. The OLB may consult with Department Chairs, College or Deans, or the Provost’s Office as appropriate for resolution, recognizing that final determinations regarding course standards and accommodations remain under faculty purview. This process aims to uphold both academic integrity and the University’s commitment to faith-based and culture-based inclusion.

To assist students and instructors in this process, guidelines and examples are provided below.

Student Form for Accommodation Requests
Students should first attempt to arrange their course schedules to minimize conflicts with their own faith or cultural needs. If conflicts cannot be avoided due to schedule restrictions and course requirements, students should follow the process below.

Students: to assist in requesting a religious or faith-based academic accommodation, please complete the form below and submit it to your instructor. Forms ought to be submitted to instructors within the first two weeks of a 16-week course, or within the first week of an 8- or 7-week course, or as soon as possible once a conflict with course requirements is anticipated.

To ensure timely and fair accommodation processes, students are encouraged to submit any faith-based or culture-based accommodation requests before the University’s course drop deadline. Early submission allows instructors to plan appropriately and supports a positive, collaborative process.

Please note: these support measures are intended to support academic success in each student’s specific courses. The accommodations referenced here do not encompass housing requests nor health requirements. For exemptions related to health requirements, please check with your college or program directly, as policies and deadlines may vary.

Next steps:
If students are unable to secure a reasonable, required faith-based accommodation in their course, they should contact the faculty liaison of the college within which the specific course or faculty resides. (Please see the list below). Faculty liaisons will provide review and additional support.

Faculty Liaisons:

• CoHFAC: Dr. Elizabeth Sartell, esartell@lewisu.edu
• CoESS: Prof. Huma Zia, ziahu@lewisu.edu
• CoAST: Dr. Khaled Alzoubi, alzoubkh@lewisu.edu
• CoB: Dr. Iyad Rock, irock@lewisu.edu
• CoNHS: Dr. Arvie Vitente, avitente@lewisu.edu
• SGPCE & St Augustine: Students and instructors for courses in the School of Graduate, Professional & Continuing Education (SGPCE) and St. Augustine College can contact either Dr. Elizabeth Sartell or Prof. Huma Zia for support.

Best Practices:

1. Become Familiar with Interfaith Inclusion & Religious Diversity
   
   
   1. Use the Interfaith Holidays Calendar to understand the faith-based traditions and celebrations most relevant to our students.
      
      
   2. Attend religiously diverse campus events and lectures.
      
      
2. Work with Students Proactively on Schedules
   
   
   1. Advisors and Success Coaches should proactively ask students if they have faith-based or culture-based practices that could influence their course scheduling. When appropriate, they should work with students to select course sections that do not require accommodations for regular observances whenever feasible. An example question for advising sessions might be: “Do you have any faith-based or cultural practices that would inform how we select your courses or class times?”
      
      
   2. If your advisee has a weekly religious obligation, work with them to try and create a course schedule that does not conflict with this obligation. If a required course poses a weekly conflict, search for other courses that meet the requirement or other sections of the same course that meet at alternative times.
      
      
3. Support Students in Requesting Accommodations
   
   
   1. If a student needs to request a faith-based accommodation for their courses, advise them to reach out to their instructors in advance and suggest that they complete the accommodation request form found above in the “Resources for Students” section.
      
      
   2. If students are unable to secure a reasonable and required faith-based accommodation, support them in the resolution process outlined above. Students or instructors may first contact the designated faculty liaison (listed above) for the college of the particular course within which accommodations are being requested. These liaisons can provide guidance, ensure communication remains constructive and solution-oriented, and connect instructors and students with the Office of Lasallian Belonging or Interfaith Cooperation Committee when additional support is needed.