Religious Rights and Accommodations

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Religious Rights at WKU

Western Kentucky University is committed to fostering an educational and workplace environment that respects the religious beliefs, observances, and practices of all members of the university community. Consistent with applicable federal and state law and university policy, WKU prohibits discrimination on the  basis of religion and is committed to providing equal access to educational programs, employment opportunities, and university activities regardless of an individual’s religious beliefs, religious practices, or lack of religious belief.

Students and employees have the right to:

• Hold, express, or decline to hold religious beliefs.
• Engage in religious observances and practices consistent with university policies and applicable law.
• Request reasonable accommodations for sincerely held religious beliefs, practices, and observances.
• Be free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation based on religion.
• Seek assistance from the Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) regarding questions, concerns, or accommodation requests.

Religious Accommodations

Most religious accommodation requests can be resolved through direct communication between the student and faculty member or between the employee and supervisor.  The Office of Institutional Equity is able to provide consultation, facilitate discussions, and review requests when questions arise, when a request cannot be resolved informally, when a proposed accommodation may affect essential academic or job requirements, or when concerns about discrimination, harassment, or retaliation are raised. Accommodation requests are evaluated on an individualized basis, taking into account the nature of the request, the student’s or employee’s sincerely held religious belief, applicable legal requirements, and whether the requested accommodation can be provided without creating an undue hardship or fundamentally altering an academic or employment requirement, where applicable.

Students seeking a religious accommodation should first discuss the request with the appropriate faculty member whenever feasible.  If additional assistance is needed or the request cannot be resolved, students may submit the Student Religious Accommodation Request Form.

Employees seeking a religious accommodation should discuss the request with their supervisor or department when appropriate and may submit the Employee Religious Accommodation Request Form if additional guidance or assistance is needed.

OIE has developed the following guidance to assist faculty and supervisors in responding to religious accommodation requests.

• Faculty Guidance
• Supervisor Guidance

This guidance is intended to assist faculty and supervisors in responding to student and employee religious accommodation requests and should be read in conjunction with WKU’s Religious and Cultural Observations Policy, No. 1.4000/4.2700.  

Related Policies and Resources

• Religious and Cultural Observations Policy, No. 1.4000/4.2700
• Antisemitism Policy, No. 0.2500
• Institutional Neutrality Policy, No. 0.2400
• Free Speech Policy, No. 0.2310
• Discrimination and Harassment Policy, No. 0.2040
• Discrimination and Harassment Reporting Form
• Free Speech at WKU
• Title VI Compliance