RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATIONS at KUMC August 2017

Background & Purpose Accommodations have been provided informally for students and employees, but with no real institutional policy or guidance. Initiative began on Lawrence campus Fall 2016. Given the unique needs of the KUMC campus, free-standing KUMC policy more appropriate. Robert Klein, Vice Chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs, formed a workgroup comprised of faculty, staff and administrators from the three schools to draft a Religious Accommodation Policy and procedures. Provides formal parameters and a procedure for individuals to request accommodations when their sincerely held religious beliefs, practices or observances interfere or conflict with employment or academic policies, practices or requirements.

Policy Highlights LEARNERS The University will make reasonable efforts to accommodate timely requests for absences associated with religious needs. A learner may request to be excused from participating in specific health care and/or research procedures or other educational experiences where such care or experiences presents a conflict with the learner’s religious beliefs. Learners are still responsible for the knowledge of such procedures or educational experiences.

Policy Highlights UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEES The University will make reasonable efforts to accommodate an employee’s requests for absences which may include allowing flexible arrival or departure times, providing floating or optional holidays, allowing flexible work breaks, considering schedule substitutions with colleagues of substantially similar qualifications, or providing other reasonable adjustments to their regular work hours. An employee may request to be relieved from participating in an aspect of a patient’s care or treatment in situations where the prescribed care or treatment presents a conflict with the employee’s religious beliefs.

Policy Highlights RELIGIOUS ATTIRE, GROOMING, PRAYER AND OTHER PRACTICES The University will make reasonable efforts to accommodate requests for specific religious attire, dress or grooming, quiet spaces or time for prayer, or to engage in other religious practices that are a requirement of religious observance.

Procedure Accommodation requests will be submitted online through a link that can be provided on syllabi, employee resource websites and other relevant websites. https://form.jotform.us/71005615090142

Procedure Requester fills out form online Approver & EO Officer receive notice of request via email Approver consults with chair, supervisor, etc. as needed Approver “edits” the request to complete disposition Approver Print/Saves request as PDF for record-keeping Approver & EO Officer receive confirmation email Requester notified of decision within 10 business days of request

Approvers Mark Meyer, MD Associate Dean for Student Affairs School of Medicine Chari Young, JD Associate Vice Chancellor Human Resources KC Pamela Barnes, PhD, MBA, CSSGB School of Nursing Crystal Nevins Director Human Resources Wichita Jeff Radel, PhD Interim Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs School of Health Professions Lucy Kollhoff, MS Assistant Dean Human Resources Salina Mike Werle, PhD Dean for Graduate Studies Graduate Studies

Syllabi SAMPLE LANGUAGE FOR SYLLABI KU Medical Center respects the religious diversity of its students and will make good faith efforts to provide reasonable religious accommodations for the sincerely held religious beliefs, practices or observances of its students when they conflict with University policy or procedure. Such accommodations must not fundamentally affect the University’s mission or commitment to patient care or otherwise create an undue hardship.  If you wish to submit a request for religious accommodations, please complete this online form.   https://form.jotform.us/71005615090142

Questions? Natalie Holick, JD Director, Equal Opportunity Office nholick@kumc.edu Robert Klein, PhD Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs rklein@kumc.edu