Scenario: Cultural Accommodations

You are putting students together in small groups to work on a project. A Saudi female approaches you after class to say that she cannot be in her assigned group because it includes a Saudi non-family-related, male student. “I can’t work with him because of my religion,” she says.

This is a scenario that happened in the classroom of a member of the Productive Discomfort cohort. The group discussed possible responses, including:

• Allow student to change groups. Check with male to make sure he understands why this is happening.
• If problems arise, work with EEO Officer regarding making reasonable accommodations.
• Cultural and religious accommodations may be different, but it is up to the student to request them.