Absence due to Religious Observance

Every student has the right to pursue their education while practicing their faith. 

New York State law requires campuses to excuse, without penalty, individual students’ absences due to religious beliefs and to provide equivalent opportunities for makeup exams, study or work requirements missed due to such absences. 

To request a reasonable religious accommodation, contact your course instructor(s) directly and with sufficient time for them to make the accommodation. Instructors should work directly with students to accommodate religious observances.  

Whenever possible, instructors should not schedule exams, presentations or major due dates on major religious holidays. When scheduling conflicts are unavoidable, instructors must give students the opportunity for an equivalent makeup. Makeup exams must be comparable to the scheduled exam. 

If a class is held on a major religious holiday, instructors should post their lecture notes and other class materials on Blackboard. Contact ITLAL or ITS for assistance. 

Students who encounter issues when requesting a reasonable religious accommodation should contact either the Office of Undergraduate Education or the Graduate School. 

Instructors are responsible for meeting with their classes regularly and at scheduled times, according to the Academic Calendar. In the event of illness or an emergency, you must notify your department, school or college so suitable action can be taken. 

Professional and classified staff are required to charge accruals for absences due to religious observance. 

If you’ll be absent during a regular workday for religious observance or for professional reasons (such as attending a conference) while classes are in session, you must inform your department chair or dean in advance.  

Classes cannot be canceled if you will be absent due to religious observation or professional reasons. 

Instead, you must find a replacement instructor or present an alternative instructional plan (such as providing timed assignments in Blackboard, having a colleague monitor a guest speaker, providing a take-home exam or assignment, etc.) 

Alternative instructional plans must be approved in advance by your department chair or dean.