“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”
On public campuses, government must stay neutral on religion — protecting private practice while barring school-sponsored worship or coercion.
What it Protects
The Free Exercise Clause “categorically prohibits government from regulating, prohibiting, or rewarding religious beliefs as such.” The Establishment Clause bars government from establishing a religion or coercing religious participation; in public schools, policies that pressure students to participate in prayer have been struck down. According to U.S. Department of Education guidance, students may engage in voluntary, non-disruptive religious expression during non-instructional time.
What it Doesn’t Protect
Neutral, generally applicable laws may be enforced even if they incidentally burden religious conduct, and the government may not endorse or sponsor religious exercise in public schools. The Religion Clauses apply to states and their subdivisions through the Fourteenth Amendment, so state and local officials — including public schools and universities — are bound by these limits, according to “Relationship Between the Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses.”
The Two Parts, in Practice
The Freedom of Religion component of the First Amendment comprises two key parts. The first of these is the Establishment Clause. It prevents the government from establishing an official religion to represent the nation, discouraging favoritism and ensuring the separation of church and state. It also requires neutrality toward religious and nonreligious viewpoints. In public school settings, courts have invalidated school-sponsored prayer because it can coerce participation, even when it is student-led or delivered at events like football games.
Second is the Free Exercise Clause. Individuals have the right to practice — or not to practice — religion as freely as they see fit, as long as their practice complies with neutral, generally applicable laws. That framework is why public schools may not actively promote any particular religion. However, students can engage in voluntary prayer or wear religious attire, provided it does not disrupt instruction or violate neutral rules that are equally applied to everyone.
What this Means at a Public University
Because the Religion Clauses are incorporated against the states, public colleges and universities must generally remain neutral toward religion and may not deny facilities or funding to student groups based on viewpoint. FAU policy states the university will reasonably accommodate students’ religious observances and provides a grievance path through the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX.
Practicing your Faith at FAU
FAU has many religious organizations here on campus, including the Muslim Student Association, Reformed University Fellowship (RUF), Catholic Owls, the Hillel Center, and more. Find a group to practice your faith via Owl Central.
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