Religious Exemption Request for Clinical Site Vaccines

ISU does not have a vaccination requirement, however, some students in the Health Sciences will be placed at a clinical site that does have such a requirement. If that situation applies to you and you are seeking an accommodation, this is the procedure to follow.

Procedure for Requesting Religious Exemptions for Clinical Site Vaccination Requirements

We understand that some students may seek vaccination exemptions based on religious beliefs. To ensure a smooth and efficient process, please follow the steps outlined below:

1. Admission and Program Participation
   Students will be admitted to their declared major program and can begin working toward program completion, including any required clinical or field placements.

2. Clinical Placement
   Students will coordinate with their program director to receive a clinical rotation schedule.

3. Requesting Accommodations
   Once a clinical rotation schedule is assigned, the student must work directly with their designated clinical site to request any necessary accommodations for religious exemptions. This process should be initiated as early as possible to allow time for processing.

4. Clinical Site Policy

   • If the clinical site has an established procedure for handling religious exemption requests, the student should follow that procedure.
   • If the clinical site does not have a process or prefers guidance from ISU’s Office of Equity and Inclusion, the site should provide the student with documentation indicating their request for a recommendation from ISU.

5. Submitting the Request
   The student should complete the Religious Exemption Request Form and attach any documentation provided by the clinical site. This form will be submitted to the Office of Equity and Inclusion for review.

Please ensure that all steps are followed to facilitate timely and appropriate accommodations. If you have any questions or need further assistance, contact the ISU Office of Equity and Inclusion at (208) 282- 3964.

Use this form to request a religious exemption from the Clinical Facilities vaccination requirements. This exemption request is for those individuals assigned to a clinical placement site and that site is asking for ISU to provide a recommendation on your behalf for a sincerely-held religious belief that prevents you from getting vaccinated. You must provide documentation from the clinical site asking for our recommendation in this process. 
Once you submit this form, your request will be reviewed by our ISU Office of Equity & Inclusion team. You will receive a response via email as soon as possible.