Accommodation of Student Religious, Aboriginal, and Spiritual Observance – Policy 150

Accommodation of Student Religious, Aboriginal, and Spiritual Observance 

Toronto Metropolitan University is a community which celebrates diversity and places a high value on inclusion and respect for differences. TMU recognizes that the religious, Aboriginal or spiritual observances of students may conflict with their academic obligations and could potentially lead to a disadvantage if an accommodation is not arranged. The University also accepts that sincerely held beliefs by members of the same religious group or Aboriginal peoples (from different nations) often engender different types of commitments for observance practices.

In accordance with the principles of the Ontario Human Rights Code, which requires accommodations based on creed, this policy outlines how accommodations for the religious, Aboriginal or spiritual observances of Toronto Metropolitan University students will be determined.

If a student is requesting accommodation due to a religious, Aboriginal and/or spiritual observance, they must submit their complete request form via the online Academic Consideration Request (ACR) system within the first two weeks of the class or, for a final examination, within two weeks of the posting of the examination schedule. If the required absence occurs within the first two weeks of classes, or the dates are not known well in advance as they are linked to other conditions, these requests should be submitted with as much lead time as possible in advance of the required absence.

Instructors will respond to written accommodation requests in writing within five (5) business days of receiving the request.