Student Absences Due to Religious Beliefs

Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 151C, Section 2B, excuses the absence of students for their religious beliefs. Under this law, any college student who cannot attend classes, take an exam, study, or fulfill assignments on a particular day, because of his or her religious beliefs, is excused. The student should be provided with an opportunity to make up the exam(s) or assignment(s), provided, however, the makeup exam or work does not create an unreasonable burden upon the institution. The student may not be charged nor subject to adverse or prejudicial effects for using the provisions of the law (stated below):

Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 375: Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same as follows: (Chapter 151C of the General Law is hereby amended by inserting after section 2A the following section:) Section 2B: Any student in an educational or vocational institution, other than a religious or denominational educational or vocational training institution, who is unable, because of his religious beliefs, to attend classes or to participate in any examination or study or work requirement, shall be provided with an opportunity to make up such examination, study or work requirement which he may have missed because of such absence on any particular day, provided, however, that such makeup examination or work shall not create an unreasonable burden upon such school. No fees of any kind shall be charged by the institution for making available to the said student such opportunity. No adverse or prejudicial effects shall result to any student because of his availing himself of the provisions of this section. A copy of this section shall be published by each institution of higher education in the catalog of such institution containing the list of available courses.

Approved October 8, 1985