Campus Life

Religious holiday absence policy reminder

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Faculty, staff 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 are obliged to miss classes for legitimate, unavoidable reasons, such as illness, injury, military service, family emergency, or religious observance.

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." Faculty Senate Policy 42-27 and AAPP E-11 state that “on occasion, students may opt to miss a class meeting in order to participate in . . . religious observance.”

As a university, Penn State recognizes and values the multiplicity of characteristics possessed by students and continues to affirm the goal of creating a more inclusive, civil, and diverse learning community. University leaders recognize that the right of students to participate in religious observance is a fundamental element of diversity.

In consultation with campus and community religious leaders, The Center for Spiritual & Ethical Development on the University Park campus 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. This is not an exhaustive list of all holy days in each religious tradition. The list is available online at http://www.events.psu.edu/cgi-bin/cal/webevent.cgi?cmd=listyear&ncmd=startup&cal=cal42

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last Updated September 5, 2017