Policy
Clover Park Technical College (CPTC) is committed to fostering an inclusive learning
environment that respects students’ diverse faiths, beliefs, and practices. In accordance
with RCW 28B.137.010, CPTC will reasonably accommodate a student’s absence or
significant hardship due to reasons of faith or conscience, or for participation in
organized religious activities, so that the student’s grade or academic standing is not
adversely impacted.
This policy applies to all academic activities, including in-person and online classes,
labs, clinical rotations, practicums, and simulation-based learning.
CPTC will post this policy publicly on the institutional website, and all faculty must
include the required syllabus statement in every course.
Definitions
Reasonable accommodation – Coordinating with the student to adjust or
reschedule course activities, assignments, labs, clinical shifts, exams, or other
required work so that the student can observe a religious holiday or practice
without academic penalty.
Accommodations should not alter essential course requirements or
compromise accreditation or licensure standards.
Significant hardship – A conflict between a student’s sincerely held religious or
conscience-based belief/practice and a scheduled academic activity.
Signed Policy
Procedure
Student Request Process
- Students must submit a Student Absence for Faith or Conscience Form within the first two weeks of the quarter, identifying the specific dates and nature of the observance.
- Requests are submitted to the Office of the Vice President for Instruction, which administers and approves accommodations.
- If an observance occurs within the first two weeks of the quarter, students must:
- Provide at least 14 days’ advance notice for on-campus activities (e.g., class, lab, simulation), OR
- Provide notice prior to the last day of the preceding quarter for off-campus activity occurring in the next quarter (e.g., clinical rotations).
- If the student did not know about the need for accommodation in advance, they
- must submit the request within one business day of becoming aware.
- Students are not required to explain their faith tradition beyond identifying the dates of observance.
Approval & Documentation
• The Vice President for Instruction (or designee) reviews and approves all requests in advance.
• Approved requests will not be granted retroactively unless compelling circumstances exist.
• The VPI Office provides a formal authorization document to the student.
• Students are responsible for delivering this documentation to each impacted instructor.
Instructor Responsibilities
Once notified by the student:
- The instructor must determine what adjustments are necessary to support course completion.
- The instructor must communicate these adjustments to the student within two business days.
- Instructors may require assignments or exams to be completed before the observance date.
- Authorized absences cannot negatively impact the student’s grade, participation score, or standing.
- Essential course requirements and accreditation standards (e.g., clinical hour minimums, safety competencies) must still be met.
If the student does not provide the approval documentation from the VPI, the instructor is not obligated to provide accommodations.
Examples of Reasonable Accommodations
• Submitting a paper or assignment early
• Rescheduling a test or quiz
• Adjusting the date of a required lab, simulation, or skill check
• Rescheduling a clinical shift when possible, within clinical site policies
• Providing alternative opportunities to demonstrate required learning outcomes
Reasons a Request May Be Denied
Requests may be denied if:
• The accommodation would cause the student to miss required hours that cannot be made up (e.g., clinical hours mandated by program or accreditation)
• The request would require altering essential course requirements
• The accommodation extends beyond the dates of the religious observance
• The request compromises academic integrity or creates inequity among students
• The student fails to provide required documentation or required notice
• The request requires outside the timeline of normal contracted time
Complaints and Appeals
Students who have concerns about:
• A denied request
• Failure to provide an approved accommodation
• Negative grade impact
May file a complaint through:
• The Student Concerns Procedure (for issues not related to final grades), or
• The Grade Appeal Process (if the concern affects the final grade), or
• CPTC’s Title IX Compliance Officer for discrimination concerns.
Required Syllabus Statement (Do Not Alter)
“Washington state law requires that Clover Park Technical College develop a policy for
the accommodation of student absences or significant hardship due to reasons of faith
or conscience, or for organized religious activities. CPTC’s policy including more
information about how to request an accommodation is available at www.cptc.edu.
Accommodations must be requested within the first two weeks of the quarter using the
Religious Accommodation Request Form.”
