Religious Observance Accommodations

Donnelly College values and respects the religious beliefs and practices of all students.
In accordance with the College's mission and commitment to equity and inclusion, reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate students' sincerely held religious observances, when such accommodations do not compromise academic or clinical standards. Please read through the Clinical limitations below.

Classroom & Lab Accommodations - Nursing

Students who anticipate needing to miss classroom or lab activities for a religious holiday or observance are required to:

Submit a written request to the course instructor at least two (2) weeks in advance.
Include the date(s) of the observance and the nature of the religious obligation.
If approved, the instructor will provide a make-up assignment or learning activity aligned with the missed content.
All missed work must be submitted within one week of the missed class date unless otherwise agreed upon in writing.

Clinical Absences and Limitations

Due to the nature of clinical education and patient care responsibilities, accommodations for religious observance during clinical assignments are extremely limited and not guaranteed. Clinical rotations follow professional scheduling similar to nursing employment. Just as nurses are expected to provide care on weekends, holidays, and during religious observances, so too do these same expectations apply to nursing students during their training.

Students must notify the Director of Nursing within the first week of the semester if a conflict between a clinical schedule and a religious observance exists. Documentation of the observance is required.
The Nursing Program will assess the request on a case-by-case basis, considering clinical site constraints, staffing, accreditation standards, and the student’s ability to meet clinical hour requirements.
If an accommodation is not possible, the student may need to complete the clinical experience at a different time, which may result in delays in program progression.

Student Responsibilities

Plan ahead and communicate your request early.
Understand that while the program affirms your right to religious expression, the clinical environment mirrors professional practice expectations.
Accept that missed clinical hours may affect the ability to meet course and program outcomes.