How to Request Religious Accommodations
As expressed in the University's Statement on Religious Observances, Drexel University "supports an environment that respects the religious observances of others and is committed to making every reasonable effort to accommodate the religious observances of instructors, students and professional staff."
Housing and Dining Accommodations (For Students)
Students who wish to request religious accommodations pertaining to housing and/or dining must complete the Housing/Dining Accommodation Form available in DrexelOne.
- Visit DrexelOne
- Click on the Campus + Community tab
- Click on the Housing & Dining link
- Select 'Housing & Dining Forms' from the top navigation bar, then complete the 'Housing and/or Dining Exemption/Accommodation Form'
Please provide as much detail as possible. At the student's discretion, they may attach a letter from their spiritual advisor to provide additional information in support of this request. Students must be proactive and request such accommodations in a timely manner. Please note that if a student requests an accommodation after prior use of housing and/or dining services without such an accommodation, the student may be asked to clarify or explain the change in circumstances prompting the request. For timelines and other details, please review Business Services’ Accommodations Requests webpage.
Academic Accommodations (For Students)
Faculty members are asked to reasonably accommodate students' religious observances in course scheduling. The University maintains a Religious Observances Calendar for this purpose. Students are asked to inform their instructors of any absences or conflicts with the schedule due to religious observances, well in advance of the anticipated absence. The student and instructor should develop mutually agreed upon and reasonable accommodations. In the event that such accommodations cannot be established, the student can appeal to the dean of their college or school.
Employee Accommodations
Employees may also request reasonable accommodations due to religious observance. These may be coordinated with the individual's supervisor, well in advance, in a manner that parallels the process for students. Employees may also consult with their Human Resources Business Partner.
Maintaining an Inclusive Environment
Drexel University is committed to promoting, supporting and providing resources to sustain a living, learning and working environment of diversity, equality, fairness, inclusion and respect where all members of the University community are valued. Individuals who believe they have experienced discrimination or harassment on the basis of religion – including denial of a requested accommodation – may report this to the Office for Institutional Equity and Inclusive Culture (EIC).
EIC is also available to work with individuals – faculty, professional staff and students – to provide information, resources and options about reasonable accommodations, at any stage in the process: before an accommodation has been requested, during the process of negotiating a reasonable accommodation, or after a requested accommodation has been denied.
All members of the Drexel community are encouraged to access available resources that support spiritual and religious life, including:
- Spaces such as:
- Interfaith Chapel and Muslim Prayer Room (James E. Marks Intercultural Center at 3225 Arch Street);
- Perelman Center for Jewish Life (118 N. 34th Street)
- St. Katharine Drexel Chapel (Academic Building at 101 N. 33rd Street, 2nd floor)
- Student Organizations can be identified in DragonLink by searching the Spiritual & Religious category; and
- University Chaplains provide religious and spiritual counsel to all members of the Drexel community, including faculty, professional staff and students.