Absences Due to Religious Observance

The University of Massachusetts Amherst requires that the University excuse any student who is unable to attend classes or participate in any examination, study, or work requirement because of religious observance, as noted: 

Chapter 151C of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts General Law states: “Any student in an educational or vocational training institution, other than a religious or denominational educational or vocational training institution, who is unable, because of his religious beliefs, to attend classes or to participate in any examination, study or work requirement on a particular day shall be excused from any such examination or study or work requirement, and shall be provided with an opportunity to make up such examination, study, or work requirement which he may have missed because of such absence on any particular day; provided, however, that such makeup examination or work shall not create an unreasonable burden upon such school. No fees of any kind shall be charged by the institution for making available to the said student such opportunity. No adverse or prejudicial effects shall result to any student because of his availing himself of the provisions of this section.” 

Instructors must accept a student’s assertion of the need to be absent from class for religious reasons, but students are required to notify instructors in advance that they will miss class in order to observe a religious holiday. University policy and Massachusetts state law require faculty to offer make-up assignments or exams to students who are absent for religious observance. 

Students and instructors can ascertain the dates of many religious holidays by consulting an interfaith calendars such as the online calendars posted on the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life website at https://www.umass.edu/orsl/interfaith/calendars. 

Note, however, that none of these calendars is exhaustive. 

Students planning to be absent from classes due to religious observance must notify their instructors in writing as early in the semester as possible, but no later than one week in advance of the absence with the exception of holidays falling during the first week of the academic year. In the event of a dispute between a student and a faculty member, either party should contact the department head or the Ombuds Office at (413) 545-0867

Source: Academic Regulations