[Wsssc] Student Religious Exemptions...

[Brenda Ivelisse]

Hi fellow WSSSC folxs,

I had a very interesting conversation with our AAG at the college, specifically getting clarification on whether students who have been granted a religious exemptions, what are the next steps, if any...

This stemmed from a conversation with our HR - who follows up individually to each religious exemption requests to provide "accommodations."

According to our AAG, all religious exemptions have to be reviewed individually.

Here is what I learned -

  1.  HR does interactive process - what can or can't be done for each individual, reaching out to employees to determine religious exemptions that lead to accommodations.
  2.  This exception is not a firm (permanent) accommodation - will have to be constantly reviewed - for students that would be quarterly.
  3.  Accommodations can range from masking, social distancing, etc.
  4.  We need to add to our communication to students that reasonable accommodations granted at beginning of each quarter is subject to change. Each quarter subject to review your accommodation qtr. by qtr. basis.
  5.  We also need to identify what activities students with the religious exemption can't participate in…Classes of concern? Identify facilities of concern?

HR and AAG noted that the employee side has to review every 60 days, but I am not finding it for the student version: https://www.governor.wa.gov/sites/default/files/proclamations/proc_20-12.5.pdf<https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.governor.wa.gov%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fproclamations%2Fproc_20-12.5.pdf&data=04%7C01%7Cb.ivelisse%40bellevuecollege.edu%7C1b9a1f5872cb4d71ae2508d9940bf15e%7Cf94c251c1347422eb3ea8ac56befd6cb%7C0%7C0%7C637703601278439283%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=rGXVfmeyTsHHWZzbUocePPBK7zttcZzLcYqu7xa5h%2Bg%3D&reserved=0>. Note on future possible impact - exempt students/employees would have to use masks, etc. if the mask mandate is lifted... so then they stand out? Several concerns on this.

So getting to my questions: How are colleges addressing "accommodations" for a religious exemption that has been approved? What accommodations do you all provide?

Our AAG said we always have access to them to discuss. Happy to connect with Chio and Joe regarding adding to agenda if you all would like further discussion and clarity.



Dr. B

__________________________________________________________

Brenda Ivelisse, Ph.D.

Associate Vice President for Student Affairs (she/her/ella)

Office of Student Affairs

[cid:d6e54a3a-d271-4684-aa06-5ec35807b029] Chat with me!<https://teams.microsoft.com/l/chat/0/0?users=%3Cb.ivelisse@bellevuecollege.edu%3E>

3000 Landerholm Circle SE, B231B
Bellevue, WA 98007



 [cid:b2e850d7-a464-4c6b-bc4c-f79eb8770c8f]


We want to hear from you!  Please share your thoughts with us<https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforms.office.com%2FPages%2FResponsePage.aspx%3Fid%3DHCVM-UcTLkKz6orFa-_Wy90PCsaYl51LnFuiLUHiuJxURTVTTVM5SjRZN01VWTBKQzVNNEFWSERONS4u&data=02%7C01%7Cb.ivelisse%40bellevuecollege.edu%7C566ede7e8b27422a0da508d7d0d371f2%7Cf94c251c1347422eb3ea8ac56befd6cb%7C0%7C0%7C637207478885691803&sdata=iIjIfS2J8jljL1Q04ZUVrQXIY80UBWqr72Iij5NBVKc%3D&reserved=0> | Report a concern at www.bellevuecollege.edu/reportconcerns<http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/reportconcerns>


[Cover your face, wash your hands, keep 6 ft. distance, stay home if you feel ill]

This email and any files transmitted may contain confidential information as protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), 20 U.S.C. §1232g and/or Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. § 2510-2521.  If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, or distribution is prohibited. Furthermore, if you are not the intended recipient, please notify me immediately by telephone or return email and completely delete this message from your system.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.ctc.edu/pipermail/wsssc_lists.ctc.edu/attachments/20211020/1529161e/attachment-0001.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Outlook-24u55p1a.png
Type: image/png
Size: 288 bytes
Desc: Outlook-24u55p1a.png
URL: <http://lists.ctc.edu/pipermail/wsssc_lists.ctc.edu/attachments/20211020/1529161e/attachment-0003.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Outlook-nn44hnfq.png
Type: image/png
Size: 49753 bytes
Desc: Outlook-nn44hnfq.png
URL: <http://lists.ctc.edu/pipermail/wsssc_lists.ctc.edu/attachments/20211020/1529161e/attachment-0004.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Outlook-Cover your.png
Type: image/png
Size: 29088 bytes
Desc: Outlook-Cover your.png
URL: <http://lists.ctc.edu/pipermail/wsssc_lists.ctc.edu/attachments/20211020/1529161e/attachment-0005.png>