Sept. 6, 2024

Throughout the year, students might ask faculty for permission to reschedule academic obligations so that they may observe one or more religious holidays.  (You can find a list of religious holidays on the Office of Religious Life website.) We ask faculty to honor such requests.  Many faculty might also observe these holidays; please let your students know if you plan to reschedule one of your class meetings to accommodate your own observances.

We ask that you work with students to plan effective ways for them to make up their work.  For example, a student might review a classmate’s notes (if you permit); see you during your office hours; write a short essay on assigned readings; or complete an assignment you consider fair and equivalent.  Students observing their faith should not compromise their good academic standing.

Faculty should know that traditionally observant Jewish students are unable to write or use a computer or complete assignments on Shabbat and other holidays.  Their observance restricts them from doing any work at all from sunset on the first night of the holiday through nightfall on the last night. Holidays that end on Friday at nightfall go directly into the Sabbath observance.

Observant Muslim students are expected to pray individually five times a day on a specific schedule, as well as in a group session on Friday afternoons.  There is some flexibility in the daily prayers, so they can usually be accommodated around regular class meetings.  The weekly group prayer session on Fridays from 1:15 to 2:00 p.m. in Murray-Dodge Hall requires attendance on a fixed schedule.  Because the Friday prayer session overlaps with 12:30 and 1:30 classes, it would be helpful if Muslim undergraduate students who request rescheduling could enroll in classes, precepts, drill sections, and labs that meet at times other than Friday afternoon.  (Most of this scheduling is controlled by the faculty members in charge of these courses, rather than the Registrar’s office.)

Please contact the Office of Religious Life if you need information about other religious holidays students might bring to your attention.  You may also contact the Dean of Religious Life and the Chapel, Rev. Dr. Theresa S. Thames, directly at [email protected] or at 609-258-3047.

Of course, feel free to contact Michael in the Office of the Dean of the College at [email protected] or 609-258-3040 for matters related to undergraduate teaching or Rod in the Office of the Dean of the Graduate School at [email protected] or 609-258-3030 for matters related to graduate student teaching, if you have questions or concerns about teaching and religious observances.

Thanks very much for your help.  We hope your semester will be rich and rewarding.