Ecclesiastical Conditions of Employment and University Standards Procedures  Skip to main content
Policies

Ecclesiastical Conditions of Employment and University Standards Procedures 

Purpose

The following procedures describe the verification processes of the ecclesiastical conditions of employment and university standards set forth in the Ecclesiastical Conditions of Employment and University Standards policy (Policy). 

Pre-Hire Ecclesiastical Clearance and University Standards Compliance Verification

 
Applicants are informed of and agree to the expectations and conditions of employment identified in the Policy by completing and submitting the university’s job application form. Current employees in nonstudent positions for which there is no expectation of continuing employment—such as adjunct instructors who desire to be considered for further employment in those positions are informed of and agree to the expectations and conditions of employment applicable to new hires by having access to the Policy at policies.byuh.edu. 

Applicants who are not members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Church of Jesus Christ) meet with the university chaplain to verify that, if hired, they will abide by the expectations and conditions that apply to them, as described in the Policy. The chaplain completes a university standards compliance form documenting the candidate’s agreement to these expectations and conditions and sends the form to Human Resources. 

Continuing Employee Ecclesiastical Conditions of Employment and University Standards Compliance

 
The Ecclesiastical Clearance Office (ECO) handles the ecclesiastical clearance process, including all contact with ecclesiastical leaders, for employees who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ. The university does not contact ecclesiastical leaders. 

The university chaplain interviews employees who are not members of The Church of Jesus Christ regarding their compliance with university standards and notifies Human Resources of the employees’ compliance. 

Failure to Meet Ecclesiastical Conditions of Employment or University Standards Requirements

 
If an employee fails to meet the applicable ecclesiastical conditions of employment or university standards requirements, the employee is given notice and informed that his or her employment is subject to termination or that the current contract will not be renewed upon expiration unless a temporary probation period is allowed or a temporary exception is granted as described below. 

Temporary Probation

 
If the ECO notifies the university that an employee who is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ is not cleared ecclesiastically to continue employment at the university but may be able to receive a clearance no more than three months and is therefore eligible for a temporary probation period, the Employee Relations Team notifies the employee and invites them to meet the applicable ecclesiastical condition of employment and confirm that directly with their ecclesiastical leaders in order to continue employment at the university. The ECO coordinates directly with ecclesiastical leaders on temporary probation periods for employees and notifies the university of any ecclesiastical clearance received within the temporary probation period. The ECO indicates to the university only whether employees are cleared or not cleared ecclesiastically for continuing employment by the university. 

If an employee who is not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ is allowed a temporary probation period by the responsible vice president , the university chaplain must verify university standards compliance within the temporary probation period for the employee to continue employment at the university. 

Petition for Temporary Exception

 
Temporary exceptions are rare and granted only under unusual circumstances. An employee seeking a temporary exception to the employee’s termination for not meeting applicable ecclesiastical conditions of employment or university standards requirements must submit a completed Petition for Temporary Exception form within 30 calendar days of receiving written notice of termination from the university. During the 30-calendar-day window, and while the university is considering the employee’s petition, the employee may be placed on paid administrative leave, and other restrictions may be applied as deemed appropriate by the university. 

An employee may submit a temporary exception petition to the responsible vice president. The vice president reviews the petition and may interview the employee, who may further explain the circumstances that might demonstrate a compelling reason for a temporary exception. The reviewer does not speak to the employee’s present or former ecclesiastical leaders. 

After reviewing the employee’s petition, the reviewer can make a recommendation to the president of the university, who has the sole authority to grant temporary exceptions. If the president denies the petition, the employee’s employment will be terminated. Any appeal, grievance, or application for administrative review submitted under the Hiring, Rank, Status policy or the Employee Grievance policy must be filed with the appropriate officer or office within 30 calendar days of the employee receiving written notice of termination. The 30-calendar-day window for submitting a written request to the academic vice president to appeal an involuntary termination under the Hiring, Rank, Status policy or for submitting a signed, written memorandum to the Employee Relations Team under the Employee Grievance policy runs concurrently with the 30-calendar-day window described in these procedures.