Accommodations

Although Oakland University, as a public institution, does not observe religious holidays, it will continue to make every reasonable effort to help students avoid negative academic consequences when their religious obligations conflict with academic requirements.

The University is enriched by individuals of many faiths and religious observances. In affirming this diversity, it is the University’s practice to provide appropriate religious accommodations. Below are general guidelines concerning religious accommodations:

1. Students will provide reasonable advance notice to faculty of the anticipated absence. Ideally the student should provide such notice early in the semester.
2. Faculty, staff, student organizations and other programming groups are strongly urged to be mindful of major religious holidays in their scheduling.
3. Absence from class or exams and missed assignments does not relieve students from the responsibility of completing any part of the course work required during the period of absence.
4. Students will be given the opportunity to make up work without penalty, unless it can be demonstrated that a make-up opportunity would interfere unreasonably with the delivery of the course.
5. Examples of reasonable accommodations for student absences might include: rescheduling of an exam or time of clinical, altering the time of a presentation, flexibility regarding the due date of an assignment, etc.
6. Should disagreements arise under any aspect of these guidelines, the parties should first contact the Department Chair or the Dean of the School or College. If disagreements are not resolved by the Department Chair or Dean, final determinations will be made by the Provost’s Office.
7. Faculty should keep in mind that religion is a deeply personal and private matter and should make every reasonable attempt to respect the privacy of the student when making accommodations (for example, it is not appropriate to announce to the class that a student is making up an exam because of their religious observance).

The DEI Calendar is a public calendar that tracks collaborative efforts towards promoting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion events on OU's campus while building awareness and a cultural understanding of important holidays and observances of the diverse groups in our campus community.

It is Oakland University’s (OU) policy to ensure equal opportunities to students, faculty, and staff. As a university committed to diversity and non-discrimination, OU provides academic and employment accommodations for those with disabilities. Oakland University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as amended by the ADA Amendment Act (2008) and The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and upon request, will arrange reasonable accommodations to those qualified. With these efforts, we hope to create a safe and welcoming environment.  

Am I Qualified as an Individual with a Disability?:

The ADA’s definition of a disability includes having “…an impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a record of such an impairment, or being regarded as having such an impairment." The ADA also states that “a substantial impairment is one that significantly limits or restricts a major life activity such as hearing, seeing, speaking, breathing, performing manual tasks, walking, caring for oneself, learning or working.” Individuals that fit these criteria are qualified as a person with a disability.

What is a Reasonable Accommodation?:

In a workplace or job environment, any change or adjustment that enables qualified candidates or employees with disabilities to apply for jobs, perform essential functions, and enjoy equal rights and benefits qualifies as a reasonable accommodation. Accommodations are unique to each individual and are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Am I Protected by the ADA?:

Qualified individuals with disabilities are protected from employment discrimination under Title I of the ADA.

What if I am an OU Student with a Disability?:

If you are a student with a disability, please contact the Disability Support Services (DSS) office at (248) 370-4327 or by email at [email protected].

Where Can I Report an Accessibility Barrier?:

If you have an accessibility barrier to report, please fill out the Report an Accessibility Barrier form.

Additional Information and Forms:

Reasonable Accommodation Request Form

Medical Inquiry Form (Online)

Medical Inquiry Form (Print)

Oakland University must provide accommodations to pregnant students and employees, as well as those recovering from childbirth. These accommodations can take several forms, including: excusing absences, providing reasonable adjustments to the regular program, allowing students to make up missed work, and allowing students to return to the same academic and extracurricular status they had before any pregnancy or birth-related absence(s) began.

Those who feel they have been discriminated against for pregnancy or birth-related events should contact the Title IX Coordinator as soon as possible. More information on the Pregnancy Discrimination Act can be found on the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission page.