N.Y. Education Law Section 224-A
Students unable because of religious beliefs to register or attend classes on certain days

Mentioned in

CUNY Chancellor reminds students of religious accommodations

The Ticker, September 25, 2023

“…students are excused from any exams or work they missed, special fees and adverse or prejudicial effects for such accommodations. They are also given the opportunity to register for classes or make up any exams or work they may have missed.”
 
Bibliographic info

1.

No person shall be expelled from or be refused admission as a student to an institution of higher education for the reason that he or she is unable, because of his or her religious beliefs, to register or attend classes or to participate in any examination, study or work requirements on a particular day or days.

2.

Any student in an institution of higher education who is unable, because of his or her religious beliefs, to attend classes on a particular day or days shall, because of such absence on the particular day or days, be excused from any examination or any study or work requirements.

3.

It shall be the responsibility of the faculty and of the administrative officials of each institution of higher education to make available to each student who is absent from school, because of his or her religious beliefs, an equivalent opportunity to register for classes or make up any examination, study or work requirements which he or she may have missed because of such absence on any particular day or days. No fees of any kind shall be charged by the institution for making available to the said student such equivalent opportunity.

4.

If registration, classes, examinations, study or work requirements are held on Friday after four o’clock post meridian or on Saturday, similar or makeup classes, examinations, study or work requirements or opportunity to register shall be made available on other days, where it is possible and practicable to do so. No special fees shall be charged to the student for these classes, examinations, study or work requirements or registration held on other days.

5.

In effectuating the provisions of this section, it shall be the duty of the faculty and of the administrative officials of each institution of higher education to exercise the fullest measure of good faith. 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.

6.

Any student, who is aggrieved by the alleged failure of any faculty or administrative officials to comply in good faith with the provisions of this section, shall be entitled to maintain an action or proceeding in the supreme court of the county in which such institution of higher education is located for the enforcement of his or her rights under this section. 6-a. It shall be the responsibility of the administrative officials of each institution of higher education to give written notice to students of their rights under this section, informing them that each student who is absent from school, because of his or her religious beliefs, must be given an equivalent opportunity to register for classes or make up any examination, study or work requirements which he or she may have missed because of such absence on any particular day or days. No fees of any kind shall be charged by the institution for making available to such student such equivalent opportunity.

7.

As used in this section, the term “institution of higher education” shall mean any institution of higher education, recognized and approved by the regents of the university of the state of New York, which provides a course of study leading to the granting of a post-secondary degree or diploma. Such term shall not include any institution which is operated, supervised or controlled by a church or by a religious or denominational organization whose educational programs are principally designed for the purpose of training ministers or other religious functionaries or for the purpose of propagating religious doctrines. As used in this section, the term “religious belief” shall mean beliefs associated with any corporation organized and operated exclusively for religious purposes, which is not disqualified for tax exemption under section 501 of the United States Code.

Source: Section 224-A — Students unable because of religious beliefs to register or attend classes on certain days, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/EDN/224-A (updated Sep. 22, 2014; accessed Apr. 20, 2024).

201
Corporate name and objects 202
Regents 203
Officers 204
Meetings and absences 205
Quorum 206
Authority to take testimony and conduct hearings 207
Legislative power 207‑A
Disclosure of gifts made to institutions of higher education by foreign governments, persons and entities 208
General examinations, credentials and degrees 208‑A
Scheduling of examinations 209
Academic examinations 209‑A
Applications for admission to college 210
Registrations 210‑A
Admission requirements for graduate-level teacher and educational leader programs 210‑B
Graduate-level teacher and educational leadership program deregistration and suspension 210‑C
Interstate reciprocity agreement for post-secondary distance education programs 211
Review of regents learning standards 211‑A
Enhanced state accountability system 211‑B
Consequences for consistent lack of improvement in academic performance 211‑C
Distinguished educators 211‑D
Contract for excellence 211‑E
Educational partnership organizations 211‑F
Takeover and restructuring failing schools 212
Fees 212‑A
Return of deposits for professional and graduate schools 212‑B
Return of tuition for colleges, universities, professional, proprietary and graduate schools 212‑C
Teacher accreditation review fees 213
Extension of educational facilities 213‑B
Unlawful sale of dissertations, theses and term papers 214
Institutions in the university 215
Visitation and reports 215‑A
Annual report by regents to governor and legislature 215‑B
Annual report by commissioner to governor and legislature 215‑C
Promoting cost-effectiveness in public elementary and secondary schools 215‑D
State university of New York report on economic development activities 216
Charters 216‑A
Applicability of not-for-profit corporation law 216‑B
Private foundations, as defined in the United States internal revenue code of 1954: provisions included in the charter 216‑C
Special provisions for cutlery and knife museums that exhibit automatic knives 217
Provisional charters 218
Conditions of incorporation 219
Change of name or charter 220
Distribution of assets 221
Dissolution of educational institution by stockholders 222
Suspension of operations 223
Consolidation or merger of corporations 224
Prohibitions 224‑A
Students unable because of religious beliefs to register or attend classes on certain days 225
Unlawful acts in respect to examinations and records 226
Powers of trustees of institutions 227
Colleges may construct water-works and sewer systems 228
The Hamilton college sewer district 229
County educational institutions 230
Municipal training institute 231
Town and county officers training school 232
Departments and their government 233
State Museum 233‑A
Property of the state museum 233‑AA
Property of other museums 233‑B
New York state freedom trail commission 233‑C
Study 234
Indian collection 235
State science service 235‑A
New York state biodiversity research institute 235‑B
New York state biological survey 236
Public television and radio 237
Regents plan for higher education including approved plans of state university and city university of New York and plans of independent i... 238
Chair on geriatrics in the state university 238‑A
Statewide resource centers for geriatric education 239
Albert Einstein chairs in science and Albert Schweitzer chairs in the humanities 239‑A
Collection and distribution of student’s residual consumer goods 239‑B
Research dogs and cats
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Accessed:
Apr. 20, 2024

Last modified:
Sep. 22, 2014

§ 224-A’s source at nysenate​.gov

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