Religious Accommodation Policy
This policy applies to students, faculty, staff, patients, visitors, third parties and other community members.
Policy Statement
Tufts University is committed to providing an academic and work environment that is respectful of the religious beliefs of its students, employees, patients, visitors and community members. As part of this commitment, Tufts will make good faith efforts to provide reasonable religious accommodations to those in our community whose sincerely held religious beliefs conflict with a university policy, procedure, or other academic or employment requirement unless such an accommodation would create an undue hardship or would fundamentally alter our work, program and/or mission.
Definitions
There are a number of terms specific to the religious accommodations process. Use the information below to better understand these terms.
Includes traditional, organized religions but also sincerely held religious beliefs, including those that are new, uncommon, not part of a formal church or sect. All aspects of religious belief and observance that are sincerely held will be considered as part of this policy.
A reasonable change in the work or academic environment that enables a student or employee to practice or otherwise observe a sincerely held religious practice or belief without undue hardship or fundamentally altering the educational, workplace or mission of the university.
A reasonable religious accommodation may include but is not limited to:
- time for prayer during a work day
- the ability to attend religious events or observe a religious holiday
- or any necessary modification to university policy, procedure or other requirement for a student’s or employee’s (or prospective employee’s) religious beliefs, observance or practice, provided such accommodation is reasonable and does not cause undue hardship or create a fundamental alteration of the educational, workplace or mission of the university.
Significant difficulty or expense based on the university’s resources and circumstances in relationship to the cost or difficulty of providing a specific accommodation. Undue hardship may refer to financial difficulty in providing an accommodation or accommodations that are unduly expensive, substantial, disruptive, or that would fundamentally alter academic requirements, the nature or operation of the university’s business, or the essential functions of a job.
Accommodations which interfere with the safe and efficient operation of the workplace or campus or with a bona fide seniority system will often present an undue hardship.
Prayer and Meditation Rooms
Prayer and meditation rooms offer a sacred space for individuals to pray or otherwise be in a more private, contemplative setting. They are located at various locations throughout Tufts, and do not require advance reservations. Some of them do require a Tufts ID card to access, but not all.
You can see a listing of all prayer and meditation spaces on the University Chaplaincy Sacred Spaces On Campus page.
Religious Accommodations Process
To learn more about how to request a religious accommodation, visit the Request Accommodations page.