Policy 480 - Student Absence for Reasons of Faith or Conscience

Lower Columbia College will grant reasonable accommodations so that grades are not impacted for students who are absent for reasons of faith or conscience or for organized activities conducted under the auspices of a religious denomination, church, or religious organization. Such absences must be requested in writing within the first two weeks of the course and may not incur additional fees for students. Faculty must include the approved language referenced in this policy in their syllabi. This policy and the associated procedure will be posted on the college website. Students who have concerns about approval or a grade impact may utilize the student grievance procedure for concerns not directly related to grades, or to the grade appeal process in cases impacting a final grade.

Each holiday taken under this policy must be taken as a whole day, i.e. the day may not be divided into hours and taken piecemeal.

Lower Columbia College recognizes the following State legal holidays:

• New Year's Day (January 1st)
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (third Monday of January)
• President's Day (third Monday of February)
• Memorial Day (last Monday of May)
• Juneteenth (June 19th)
• Independence Day (July 4th)
• Labor Day (first Monday in September)
• Veterans' Day (November 11th)
• Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November)
• Day after Thanksgiving Day (Friday immediately following the fourth Thursday in November)
• Christmas Day (December 25th)

Whenever a holiday falls on Sunday, the following Monday shall be considered a legal holiday. When a holiday falls on Saturday, the preceding Friday shall be considered a legal holiday.

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Historic Information

• Reviewed - No Changes Needed: October 4, 2023
• Reviewed - No Changes Needed: March 10, 2021
• Approved: November 24, 2019
• Updated: August 14, 2019
• Reviewed by the Executive Leadership Team: June 12, 2019