Announcements
Posted: Thursday, August 26, 2010Buffalo State College Policy on Class Attendance on Religious Holidays
Any student in an institution of higher education who is unable because of his or her religious beliefs to attend classes on a particular day or days shall, because of such absence on the particular day or days, be excused from any examination or any study, or work requirements.
Buffalo State endorses the policy that the administering of evaluative examinations on Rosh Hashanah (sundown September 8, 2010, through sunset September 10, 2010), Yom Kippur (sundown September 17, 2010, through sunset September 18, 2010), or Good Friday (April 22, 2011) will not be permitted.
In addition, Ramadan, which began on August 11 and ends September 9, is a period of special obligations for fasting, prayers, and religious observances for Islamic students, faculty, and staff. Special consideration may be necessary to accommodate their needs during this period.
Full Policy:
1. Any student in an institution of higher education who is unable because of his or her religious beliefs to attend classes on a particular day or days shall, because of such absence on the particular day or days, be excused from any examination or any study, or work requirements.
2. It shall be the responsibility of the faculty and of the administrative officials of each institution of higher education to make available to each student who is absent from school, because of his or her religious beliefs, an equivalent opportunity to register for classes or make up any examination, study, or work requirements which he or she may have missed because of such absence on any particular day or days. No fees of any kind shall be charged by the particular day or days. No fees of any kind shall be charged by the institution for making available to the said student such equivalent opportunity.
3. If registration, classes, examinations, study, or work requirements are held on Friday after four o'clock post meridian or on Saturday, similar or makeup classes, examinations, study or work requirements shall be made available on other days, where it is possible and practical to do so. No special fees shall be charged to the student for these classes, examinations, study, or work requirements held on other days.
4. In effectuating the provisions of the Education Law, it is expected that faculty and the administrative officials will exercise the fullest measure of good faith. No adverse or prejudicial effects shall result to any student for availing himself or herself of the provisions of this section.
5. Any student, who is aggrieved by the alleged failure of any faculty or administrative official to comply in good faith with the provisions of this section shall be entitled to maintain an action or proceeding in the supreme court of the county in which such institutions of higher education is located for the enforcement of his or her rights under this section.
6. The term "religious belief" shall mean beliefs associated with any corporation organized and operated exclusively for religious purposes that is not disqualified for tax exemption under Section 501 of the United States Code.
7. At Buffalo State College, we sharpen the mandate of the state and endorse the policy that the administering of evaluative examinations on Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, or Good Friday will not be permitted.
Submitted by: Dolores E. Battle, Equity and Campus Diversity Office
Buffalo State endorses the policy that the administering of evaluative examinations on Rosh Hashanah (sundown September 8, 2010, through sunset September 10, 2010), Yom Kippur (sundown September 17, 2010, through sunset September 18, 2010), or Good Friday (April 22, 2011) will not be permitted.
In addition, Ramadan, which began on August 11 and ends September 9, is a period of special obligations for fasting, prayers, and religious observances for Islamic students, faculty, and staff. Special consideration may be necessary to accommodate their needs during this period.
Full Policy:
1. Any student in an institution of higher education who is unable because of his or her religious beliefs to attend classes on a particular day or days shall, because of such absence on the particular day or days, be excused from any examination or any study, or work requirements.
2. It shall be the responsibility of the faculty and of the administrative officials of each institution of higher education to make available to each student who is absent from school, because of his or her religious beliefs, an equivalent opportunity to register for classes or make up any examination, study, or work requirements which he or she may have missed because of such absence on any particular day or days. No fees of any kind shall be charged by the particular day or days. No fees of any kind shall be charged by the institution for making available to the said student such equivalent opportunity.
3. If registration, classes, examinations, study, or work requirements are held on Friday after four o'clock post meridian or on Saturday, similar or makeup classes, examinations, study or work requirements shall be made available on other days, where it is possible and practical to do so. No special fees shall be charged to the student for these classes, examinations, study, or work requirements held on other days.
4. In effectuating the provisions of the Education Law, it is expected that faculty and the administrative officials will exercise the fullest measure of good faith. No adverse or prejudicial effects shall result to any student for availing himself or herself of the provisions of this section.
5. Any student, who is aggrieved by the alleged failure of any faculty or administrative official to comply in good faith with the provisions of this section shall be entitled to maintain an action or proceeding in the supreme court of the county in which such institutions of higher education is located for the enforcement of his or her rights under this section.
6. The term "religious belief" shall mean beliefs associated with any corporation organized and operated exclusively for religious purposes that is not disqualified for tax exemption under Section 501 of the United States Code.
7. At Buffalo State College, we sharpen the mandate of the state and endorse the policy that the administering of evaluative examinations on Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, or Good Friday will not be permitted.
Submitted by: Dolores E. Battle, Equity and Campus Diversity Office
