Carleton is a place that celebrates diversity, including religious diversity. 60% of Carleton students identify as religious, representing countless traditions, practices, beliefs, and cultures.
At times, religious holidays and practices intersect with classes, exams, and student work at Carleton.
Carleton expects that students, faculty, and staff work together to find meaningful solutions that honor a student’s religious commitments, the expectations of their campus employers, and the curricular expectations of faculty. Students engaging in religious observances should talk with their faculty and any staff supervisors in advance, in order to agree on possible accommodations.
We strongly encourage faculty and staff to support students of faith in observing the holidays of their tradition, although we recognize that doing so may pose challenges in a variety of ways. Here are a few ways that faculty and staff supervisors can support a student’s religious practices and support their religious beliefs and practices:
- Familiarizing oneself with major religious holidays, especially their practices, schedule, and the expectations that the holidays place on those who observe them. View a religious observances calendar.
- Recognizing that a student’s religious practice is deeply personal. It connects to their sense of self, but also to their culture, family, ancestors, and communities of origin. For students of marginalized identities, holidays are a profound way to connect with one another, honor the communities and traditions they come from, and make Carleton feel more like home.
- Fostering an environment where students feel comfortable approaching you about practicing their religious tradition. We recommend a spirit of understanding and caring that recognizes that when observing holidays, students are caring for themselves and their peers. As much as possible, supporting their religious practice is one way to support student’s mental and emotional well-being.
- Working creatively and generously with students who approach you about missing class or work because of a holiday. No student should be penalized or treated differently for seeking to practice their religious or cultural traditions. Legal protections may apply in these situations, and we encourage faculty and staff supervisors to be open to reasonable accommodations and work-arounds, and to approach these conversations with a willingness to listen and support.
- For faculty: Stating clearly in your syllabus and at the beginning of the class your support of students observing religious holidays and detailing in your syllabus how you can most generously support them.
Please note that the dates of observations and religious practices can vary. There is no one way that a religion is practiced, and great diversity of practice and belief exists within every tradition.
Faculty and staff engaging in religious observances themselves should inform their department/supervisor in advance and follow the applicable time off request process. Staff should record work time missed as floating holiday or vacation time. Supervisors should make reasonable accommodations and engage in creative solutions to ensure necessary work gets done. It is important that Carleton is a workplace that honors and respects diversity, including religious diversity.
Questions about these practices may be directed to:
- Office of the Chaplain (all), x4003
- Office of the Provost (faculty), x4300
- Dean of Students Office (students), x4075
- Human Resources (staff), x7471
We invite you also to review the campus handbook for more information.