Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Religious observance

PCC recognizes the right of each student to observe religious holidays and practices. If a religious holiday or practice occurs during a time when a student has a scheduled PCC class and/or college event, the student has a right to accommodation. The Religious Observance Procedures were developed to guide students through the process of seeking accommodation, which includes being excused from a PCC class and/or college event, and finding an alternative way for the student to meet any missed educational requirements.

Student guide to religious observance accommodations

Portland Community College is enriched by a diverse student body and respects the importance of religious beliefs and practices. PCC supports a student’s right to religious observance. If you are seeking accommodation due to a religious belief or practice, please email the PCC instructors or PCC staff members from whom you are seeking accommodation. The email that you send must include the following:

1. Your name and PCC G#
2. Class CRN and title, or name and location of the class
3. Reason for accommodation
4. Specific dates of absence or other requested accommodation
5. Optional: Suggestion of reasonable accommodation (examples could include, alternative exam time, assignment deadline extension, contact classmate to get notes, or alternative assignment)

A religious belief and religious practice are defined as something that is religious in nature and is sincerely held. It’s important to note that a student will not be required to provide documentation verifying participation in religious observance.

A student has the right to a reasonable accommodation to observe a religious practice that may conflict with a class requirement. This may include missing a class session or a test, or being excused from an assignment or activity that conflicts with religious beliefs.

A reasonable accommodation is defined as a change to an academic course, program, or activity that enables a student to observe religious beliefs or practices and does not create an undue hardship on PCC or fundamentally alter an educational requirement of PCC. This means that a test, for example, may be moved to a date and time that no longer conflicts with a religious holiday, but you will still need to take the test because it is an educational requirement of PCC.

It is also important to keep in mind that the accommodation does not create an undue hardship on PCC, which means that the accommodation does not create a significant burden on the college or other students. For example, if you are observing a religious holiday that requires you to miss a class on a Wednesday, you cannot expect that the faculty member meets with you on a weekend day to provide the instruction that you missed.

A religious preference is defined as an activity or custom that is not part of a religious belief but rather an individual’s preference in time, place, or manner of expressing or fulfilling a religious belief or practice. For example, leaving a class early to pick up groceries for a religious observance happening later in the day is a preference of how you spend your time, not a religious practice. A religious preference is not eligible for accommodation.

Purpose

Portland Community College (PCC) is enriched by a diverse student body and respects the importance of religious beliefs and practices. PCC supports a student’s right to religious observance, including, but not limited to, prayer, meditation, diet, attire, ablution, absence for religious holidays, or other practices grounded in religious belief.

Portland Community College expects all faculty, staff, and administrators to provide reasonable accommodations for religious observances for all students in accordance with PCC’s policy on religious accommodations, which states:

Upon the timely request of a student, reasonable accommodations will be made available for the religious practices and beliefs of students. Such reasonable accommodation will be provided if it does not create an unreasonable hardship on PCC or fundamentally alter an educational requirement of PCC. PCC need not provide reasonable accommodation for religious preferences. PCC may limit religious practices or behavior that would put public safety, health, or human rights and freedoms of others at risk. PCC may also limit religious practices or behaviors that violate other PCC policies or the law.

Definitions

1. Reasonable accommodation: A change to an academic course, program, or activity that enables a student to observe their religious beliefs or practices and does not create an undue hardship on PCC or fundamentally alter an educational requirement of PCC. The reasonable accommodation provided need not be the accommodation requested.
2. Undue hardship: Undue hardship is a significant or substantial burden taking into account in all relevant circumstances. Undue hardship generally requires a showing of more than a “de minimis” impact, and an undue hardship must be genuine and not merely speculative.
3. Religious belief or practice: A practice or observance that is sincerely held and is religious in nature from the perspective of the individual requesting the religious accommodation.
4. Religious preference: An activity or custom that is not part of a religious belief but rather an individual’s preference in time, place, or manner of expressing or fulfilling a religious belief or practice.

Procedures for students

Accommodation within a PCC instructional course

Requests for religious accommodations will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. To seek accommodation for a PCC course due to religious observance or practice, a student should inquire about accommodations with the student’s instructor(s) at least two weeks in advance (when possible), by use of PCC email that includes

1. Student name
2. Student’s college identification number (G#)
3. Class CRN and title, or name and location of the class
4. Reason for accommodation
5. Specific date(s) of absence or other requested accommodation
6. Optional: Suggestion of reasonable accommodation (examples could include, alternative exam time, assignment deadline extension, contact classmate to get notes, or alternative assignment)

Students are not required to provide third-party documentation verifying the need for accommodation.

The PCC instructor who receives the email is expected to respond within one week and engage in an interactive discussion or process with the student to determine if the request can be accommodated without creating an undue hardship. If the student’s requested accommodation would create an undue burden, the instructor and student should explore alternatives. The instructor is encouraged to contact their direct supervisor for advice and guidance if necessary.

In accordance with PCC guidelines, absence from classes or examinations for religious reasons does not excuse students from fulfilling any part of the course work required during the period of absence. If the student fails to satisfactorily complete any alternative assignment or examination, the faculty member may apply the same grading consequences as for other students.

Non-instructional accommodation

To seek accommodation for a non-instructional activity due to religious observance or practice, a student should inquire about accommodations with the PCC staff member leading the activity at least two weeks in advance (when possible), by use of PCC email that includes,

1. Student name
2. Student’s college identification number (G#)
3. Class CRN and title, or name and location of college event
4. Reason for accommodation
5. Specific date(s) of absence or other accommodation
6. Optional: Proposal of reasonable accommodation (e.g., alternative activity or date)

Students are not required to provide third-party documentation verifying the need for accommodation.

The PCC employee who receives the email is expected to respond within one week and engage in an interactive discussion or process with the student to determine if the request can be accommodated without creating an undue hardship. If the student’s requested accommodation would create an undue burden, the PCC employee and student should explore alternatives. The PCC employee is encouraged to contact their direct supervisor for advice and guidance if necessary.

Complaint process

If a student believes that a reasonable accommodation was not provided, the student should submit an online complaint form found in the “Formal Complaint Process” section of the appeals, complaints, and feedback page. A student may also contact the Dean of Students office on any campus.