- General Policy Statement
- Reason for Policy/Purpose
- Policy
- Appendices (as applicable)
All University offices are asked to be sensitive to the needs of faculty, staff, and students who are observing religious holidays when scheduling meetings and events, and faculty and instructors are asked to make appropriate adjustments to due dates or attendance policies for students who are observing religious holidays.
The purpose of this policy is to support the rights of faculty, staff, and students to observe according to the diverse faith traditions represented in our campus community and to foster a learning and working environment that is open and welcoming to all.
Syracuse University recognizes the diverse faith traditions represented among its campus community and supports the rights of faculty, staff, and students to observe according to these traditions.
All University offices are asked to be sensitive to the needs of faculty, staff, and students who are observing a religious holiday when scheduling meetings and events.
Deans, department chairs/school directors, and program directors are asked to make every effort to avoid scheduling meetings or events at times that would exclude faculty or staff who are observing a religious holiday from participation.
Supervisors are asked to be supportive of staff members who request vacation, personal time, or floating holiday to observe a religious holiday and to make every effort to avoid scheduling meetings or events at times that would exclude such staff members from participation.
Students are asked to consider that it is more difficult to arrange appropriate accommodations in some kinds of courses (e.g., those that have certain kinds of laboratories or a significant experiential learning component), so students should consider their need for accommodation for religious observances as they plan their schedule each semester. Students should recall that not every course is offered every academic year and that the Course Catalog indicates how frequently each course is offered.
Faculty are asked to make appropriate accommodations for students’ religious observance needs by providing an opportunity to make up any examination, study, or work requirement missed due to an absence for religious observance, provided the instructor has been notified in writing or via email by the applicable deadline published on the academic calendar governing that class, including the Academic Year Calendar (for regular Fall/Spring/Summer sessions and fixed Summer sessions, including Maymester, Six-Week 1 and 2, and Twelve-Week sessions), the Eight-Week Sessions Calendar, or the Academic Quarter-Term Calendar or, for variable-length/flexibly formatted classes not governed by one of these calendars, the deadline published in MySlice. No fees will be charged to the student for the costs incurred by the University for such make-up work. If a faculty member is unwilling or unable to make an appropriate accommodation, the student should consult the dean of their home school/college.
Syracuse University recognizes that the faith traditions observed by our diverse community include more holidays than can be captured adequately in a list. In addition, some observances vary by tradition and by country or are defined by the lunar calendar. However, to assist in identifying religious observance days, Hendricks Chapel has compiled a list of religious holidays that reflect a large proportion of the University community and that may or may not fall on University work and class days.
Policy Administration
Date: January 2010
Amended: February 2011
Amended: August 2014
Amended: October 20, 2026
IV. To Whom Does This Policy Apply
Select all that apply:
☒ Students ☒ Faculty ☒ Staff ☐ Visitors/General Public