July 22, 2024
From: Suzanne L. Wenzel
Vice Provost for Academic and Faculty Affairs
Dear Faculty Colleagues,
As you prepare your course syllabi for the upcoming school year, please be aware of the university’s policy that grants students excused absences from class to observe religious holy days. This policy also includes all online courses and examinations.
Please be responsive to requests by enabling students who contact you in advance to make up work missed because of religious observance. We recommend that you avoid scheduling an examination on a major holy day or planning something that cannot be made up afterwards.
Please note that the university has a comprehensive new website outlining religious accommodation issues, policies, and frequently asked questions that might be helpful as you navigate the academic year.
The Jewish holy days that fall during the school week and are most likely to present a clear conflict with academic demands are as follows:
Rosh Hashanah: October 3rd and 4th
Sukkot: October 17th and 18th
Shemini Atzeret and Simchas Torah: October 24th and 25th
Passover: April 14th
Please note that the observance of Jewish holy days begins the evening before the holy days.
There will also be one final examination day each semester that is scheduled on a Saturday: December 9th (fall semester) and May 3rd (spring semester). Please be aware that Saturday courses and final examinations could present a conflict for Jewish and Seventh-day Adventist students who observe the Sabbath each week from Friday evening to Saturday evening.
Please note that the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins on February 28th and ends on March 31st, and that many Muslim students will break their fast at sunset every evening during Ramadan.
Additionally, please note that the Christian holy day of Good Friday is April 18th.
The holy days listed here only include those that fall during the school week and are therefore most likely to conflict with the academic calendar. Please note that there are several holy days, including Yom Kippur and Eid al-Fitr, that fall over weekends this year, and observance of those holy days might impact weekend classes, examinations, and other requirements.
Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life at orsl@usc.edu. A listing of holy days and occasions also appears on the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life website.