Students:
In May, Elon faculty approved a Religious Holiday Observance Policy for implementation in the 2009-10 academic year.
As our student body becomes more diverse, this measure will help make Elon an even more welcoming and hospitable environment for students coming from faith traditions other than the majority. Our academic calendar already provides for most major Christian holidays and this new policy provides a mechanism by which students of other traditions may legitimate their absence. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the new policy.
The policy and the associated holidays are pasted below. You will note that the policy clearly states that students must complete the Religious Holiday Observance Form and directly advise faculty of any anticipated absences by the end of the first week of the semester (that is today Monday, Sept. 7).
If you have any questions about the policy you may contact Phil Smith, Associate University Chaplain & Director of Religious Life in the Truitt Center for Religious & Spiritual Life at psmith19@elon.edu or 336-278-7729.
Religious Holidays
Elon University embraces the mission of an academic community that influences and transforms mind, body, and spirit. The following policy guiding procedure for the observance of recognized holy days is consistent with and complementary to the university’s mission.
Policy
In recognition that observance of recognized religious holidays may affect students’ classroom attendance and the submission of graded work in courses, Elon University has established procedures to be followed by students for notifying their instructors of an absence necessitated by the observance. This policy reflects the university’s commitment to being responsive to our increasing diversity and to encourage students’ spiritual development. In accordance with the policy, students who miss class to observe a specified religious holiday are required to discuss with their instructor when and how any missed assignments will be made up. The student should consult his or her academic dean if an instructor is unable or unwilling to grant the request. Absence from class due to observance of a religious holiday is excused according to university policy.
Procedure
The religious observance notification procedure is based on the operating principle that you will act in accordance with the Elon University Honor Code. This procedure can only be used to notify an instructor of an absence from class necessitated by observance on a religious holiday.
Since religious holidays are scheduled in advance, you are expected to formally notify your instructor within the first week of the semester (by Sept. 7, 2009) that you will miss class in order to observe a religious holiday by completing the Religious Observance Notification Form. It is required that you send an additional notification to your instructor at least one class before each absence.
You are also required to make prior arrangements with your instructor for completion of any work missed during your absence. Since your instructor may want to use the same exercise that the rest of the class has completed, you are obligated to avoid obtaining any information about that graded exercise that would give you an unfair advantage over other students taking the course.
Note: When you submit this form, your instructor will be notified by email, and copies will be sent to you and to your academic dean. In completing the form, you may find it useful to consult OnTrack, where you can view your class schedule to obtain the name and the number of the course and the name of the course instructor. Your signature on the form affirms your compliance with the Elon University Honor Code.
Given the time limitations inherent in completing end-of-semester assignments or making up a missed final exam, this procedure cannot be used during the final exam period. You are expected to take final examinations at the scheduled times and to complete end-of-semester work by the deadlines set by the instructor. In the event that a religious holiday should fall during exam week, contact your academic dean as soon as possible, before the scheduled assignments or exam. There may also be certain circumstances (a concert or a performance for example) which cannot be made up. In this case, the student may be advised to take that specific course in another school semester.
Holidays Recognized for 2009-10:
*Ramadan ends with Eid al Fitr sundown, September 19 through sundown, September 20 (Islam)
Rosh Hashanah is sundown, September 18 through sundown, September 20 (Judaism)
Yom Kippur is sundown, September 27 through sundown, September 28 (Judaism)
Diwali is October 17, 2009 (Hinduism)
*Eid al Adha is sundown, November 26 through sundown, November 27 (Islam)
The beginning of Pesach/Passover includes the evening of March 29 through the evening of March 30, 2010 (Judaism)
Good Friday is April 2, 2010 (Christianity)
*Islamic holidays are calculated on a lunar calendar and are approximate.
With every best wish for the new year,
phil smith
Phillip W. Smith, Associate University Chaplain & Director of Religious Life
Elon University
2960 Campus Box
Elon, NC 27244
336.278.7729
psmith19@elon.edu
www.elon.edu/rellife