Absence due to Religious Beliefs

No person shall be expelled from or be refused admission as a student to an institution of higher education for the reason that he or she is unable, because of his or her religious beliefs, to attend classes or to participate in any examination, study, or work requirements on a particular day or night.

 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.

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 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 institution for making available to said student such equivalent opportunity.

If classes, examinations, study, or work requirements are held on Friday after 4pm 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.

In effectuating the provisions of this section, it shall be the duty of the faculty and the administrative officials at each institution of higher education to exercise the fullest measure of good faith.  No adverse or prejudicial effects shall result to any student because of his availing himself/herself of the provisions of this section.

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 institution of higher education is located for the enforcement of his or her rights under this section.