Religious Holidays: Information for Faculty

Provost Holden Thorp has sent the following guidance to faculty regarding accommodations for students celebrating religious holidays.

Dear Members of the Danforth Faculty,

Every year, students face scheduling conflicts beyond their control. For one reason or another, they may ask you for some type of accommodation. Students may approach you to accommodate disabilities, illnesses, family emergencies, religious obligations or academic and professional opportunities that interfere with usual class attendance, assignments or performance. Your willingness to consider these requests is deeply appreciated.

For your convenience, listed below are the dates of religious holidays or obligations in the 2017-18 academic year that may pose potential conflicts for observant students.

The Jewish holidays that may pose potential scheduling conflicts begin at sundown on the first day listed and end at nightfall of the last day shown:

September 20-22                        Rosh Hashana
September 29-30                        Yom Kippur
October 4-6                                 Sukkot Opening Days
October 11-13                             Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah
March 30-April 1                         Passover Opening Days
April 5-7                                      Passover Closing Days
May 19-21                                  Shavuot

Additionally, the Shabbat is celebrated each Friday at sundown though Saturday at nightfall.

The date(s) this fall that may present a conflict for Muslim students are:

September 1-4:                    Eid al-Adha

Baha’i students may require observance on the following days:

October 22:                    Birth of Baha’u’llah
November 25:                Day of the Covenant
November 27:                Ascension of Abdu’l-Baha

The date that may cause a conflict for Hindu students is:

October 19:                   Diwali

Regards,

Holden Thorp
Provost
Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Rita Levi-Montalcini Distinguished University Professor