News in Brief
Penn State Intercom......August 29, 2002

Absence policy reminder

Faculty and students are reminded of Penn State's policy regarding students' requests for absence from class for the purpose of observing a religious holiday. The University Faculty Senate Policy on Class Attendance (42-27) states that instructors should provide, within reason, opportunity to make up work for students who miss classes for legitimate, but unavoidable, reasons.

As further clarification, Academic Administrative Policy on Religious Holidays (R-4) states that while the University makes every effort to avoid conflicts with religious holidays, when conflicts are unavoidable, the policy is to try and make special arrangements for the student affected. The Faculty Handbook says that "Faculty members are encouraged to entertain requests for exemptions from class attendance for purposes of religious observances."

In consultation with campus and community religious leaders, The Center for Ethics and Religious Affairs has compiled a listing of those holy days of the major world religions for which observance may require a student to depart from his or her normal routine at the University. Only those holy days which occur when classes are in session are included. This is not, therefore, an exhaustive list of all major holy days in each religious tradition. The list is available on the Web at http://www.sa.psu.edu/cera/relhol.html.

Open house

The University Libraries will hold an open house and orientation for faculty, staff, students and visitors from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 9 and 10 in Pattee and Paterno Libraries on the University Park campus.

The event is sponsored by the University Libraries Instructional Programs. For more information, check the Web at http://www.libraries.psu.edu/crsweb/instruction/ip/open_house.htm.

CLGBTE meetings

The Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equity will meet this semester on Sept. 16, Oct. 17, Nov. 20 and Dec. 11. All meetings are 1:30-3:30 p.m. in 404 Old Main on the University Park campus with the exception of the Oct. 17 meeting, which is in the Gold Room of the Pollock Commons.

There also will be a town meeting from 5 to 7 p.m. Sept. 23 in the HUB-Robeson Center Auditorium. Meetings are open to all University faculty, staff and students. The commission is an advisory group to President Graham B. Spanier about issues of interest and concern to members of the University's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Any questions should be directed to the commission's office at (814) 863-7696.

CFW meetings

The Commission for Women will meet this semester on Sept. 24, Oct. 30, Nov. 19 and Dec. 17. All meetings are 11:30-1:30 p.m. in 404 Old Main on the University Park campus.

Meetings are open to all University faculty, staff and students. The commission is an advisory group to President Graham B. Spanier about issues of concern for the women faculty, staff and students of Penn State. Any questions should be directed to the commission's office at (814) 863-8493.

CORED meetings

The Commission on Racial/Ethnic Diversity will meet this semester on Sept. 12, Oct. 10 and Dec. 13. All meetings are 12:30-2:30 p.m. in 404 Old Main on the University Park campus.

Typically, CORED meetings are open to the public. Contact Toni DuPont-Morales, at (717) 948-6319 or mxl25@psu.edu to attend a meeting or place an item on the CORED agenda.

The commission is an advisory group to President Graham B. Spanier in matters relating to racial and ethnic diversity. Any questions should be directed to the commission's office at (814) 863-7696.

Libraries guide

Copies of the new Guide to the Libraries now are available on the University Park campus.

Call the Libraries' Public Relations and Marketing office at (814) 865-0401 or e-mail cqg3@psu.edu and indicate the desired number of copies and mailing address. Copies also may be picked up at any Libraries service desk.

Simplified access

The University Libraries have a new Web home page that merges the former home page and the Library Information Access System (LIAS) page into one information resource that simplifies the use and navigation of the Libraries' two primary access points to electronic information. The new page is located at http://www.libraries.psu.edu.

Developed jointly by the Libraries and Digital Library Technologies, part of Information Technology Services, the site has new features to clarify information and assist with navigation.

For questions and more information, contact the Office of the Dean of University Libraries at (814) 865-0401 or e-mail slb3@psulias.

Back