2023 Illinois Compiled Statutes › Chapter 110 - HIGHER EDUCATION › 110 ILCS 110/ - University Religious Observances Act.

(110 ILCS 110/0.01) (from Ch. 144, par. 2100)
Sec. 0.01. 
		Short title. 
		This Act may be cited as the
University Religious Observances Act.
(Source: P.A. 86-1324.)
(110 ILCS 110/1) (from Ch. 144, par. 2101)
Sec. 1. 
		
		A public institution of higher education shall adopt a
policy which reasonably accommodates the religious observance of individual
students in regard to admissions, class attendance, and the scheduling of
examinations and work requirements.  This policy shall include a grievance
procedure by which a student who believes that he or she has been
unreasonably denied an educational benefit due to his or her religious
belief or practices may seek redress.  Such policy shall be made known to
faculty and students annually by inclusion in the institution's handbook,
manual or other similar document regularly provided to faculty and
students.  For the purposes of this
Section (a) "public institution of higher education" means the University of
Illinois, Southern Illinois University,
Chicago State University, Eastern Illinois University, Governors State
University, Illinois State University, Northeastern Illinois University,
Northern Illinois University, Western Illinois University, the public community
colleges of the State and any
other public universities, colleges and community colleges now or hereafter
established or authorized by the General Assembly;
and (b) "religious observance" or "religious practice" includes all aspects
of religious observance and practice, as well as belief.
(Source: P.A. 89-4, eff. 1-1-96.)
(110 ILCS 110/1.5)
Sec. 1.5. Absence of student due to religious beliefs.
(a)  In this Section, "institution of higher learning" has the meaning ascribed to that term in the Higher Education Student Assistance Act.
(b)  Any student in an institution of higher learning, other than a religious or denominational institution of higher learning, who is unable, because of his or her religious beliefs, to attend classes or to participate in any examination, study, or work requirement on a particular day shall be excused from any such examination, study, or work requirement and shall be provided with an opportunity to make up the examination, study, or work requirement that he or she may have missed because of such absence on a particular day; provided that the student notifies the faculty member or instructor well in advance of any anticipated absence or a pending conflict between a scheduled class and the religious observance and provided that the make-up examination, study, or work does not create an unreasonable burden upon the institution. No fees of any kind shall be charged by the institution for making available to the student such an opportunity. No adverse or prejudicial effects shall result to any student because of his or her availing himself or herself of the provisions of this Section.
(c)  A copy of this Section shall be published by each institution of higher learning in the catalog of the institution containing the list of available courses.
(Source: P.A. 97-1038, eff. 1-1-13.)