As part of our commitment to the success and wellbeing of every student on our diverse campus, the University of Massachusetts Amherst has implemented various policies to accommodate religious observance or practice.
For students seeking accommodations for religious or spiritual practices or observances, the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life has collected this list of university policies and procedures. For questions, contact the office associated with each section below. If you would like assistance in navigating this process, please contact the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life.
Class Absence
University policy ensures that no student will be penalized as a result of religious observance, but does require advance notification. The university policy on class absences due to religious observance is published in Academic Regulations by the Office of the Provost, and compiled by the Office of the Registrar.
Please see the Office of the Registrar for the most up-to-date version of the policy.
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 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.
If you would like assistance communicating with your professor about a religious class absence, or if you have tried unsuccessfully to talk with your professor and need help, contact the Ombuds Office, the department head, or the Office of Religious & Spiritual Life (@email) for assistance. If you do not know your instructor’s email address, look it up in People Finder, the university directory.
Housing
Residential Life offers reasonable housing accommodations based on a student’s religious beliefs, observances, and practices. The university maintains a policy regulating the burning of candles or offerings for religious or cultural reasons which also applies in all university residential areas.
Roommate Selection
All new students must submit a brief housing profile and complete a housing preference application. You may request a specific roommate. Roommate requests are not guaranteed, but Residential Life will make every effort to accommodate mutual requests as space allows. All students, even those with a roommate request, must complete a housing profile.
Alcohol-Free Residence Hall
Brooks Hall in Central is an alcohol-free residence hall. Residents commit to maintaining an alcohol-free environmenta. They and their guests may not possess or consume alcoholic beverages in this respectful and encouraging community.
See Special Housing Options for more information.
Single-Gender Housing
Single-gender floors are available for first-year students in Central and Southwest. Single-gender apartments and suites are available for returning students in North, Sylvan, and the Commonwealth Honors College Residential Community.
See Special Housing Options for more information.
Shabbat-Friendly Housing
To accommodate Jewish students who do not use electronic devices on the Sabbath, Residential Life permits students to request a metal key to access the main door of their assigned residence hall. For North Apartments and suites/apartments in the Commonwealth Honors College Residential Community, a second physical key is provided to allow access to the student’s assigned suite/apartment door.
Given that Residential Life utilizes an electronic sign in process, the student will only need to state to security staff that they are on the approved Sabbath list. Residence Hall Security will confirm the student’s ID number and students will not be required to “sign” into the building.
Some light switches in CHCRC and North are motion controlled. Students observing the Sabbath in those residences may request that motion detectors be temporarily disabled. This request should be made at the same time as the Sabbath key request, at least ten (10) business days prior to taking residence.
See Residential Life Accommodations for instructions on submitting a request.
Related to the above Sabbath policy, UMass Hillel has constructed an eruv that covers the UMass Amherst campus, as well as the town of Amherst and Amherst College. Please see UMass Hillel for questions about the eruv.
Additionally, the university maintains a policy on burning materials for cultural or religious observance, which applies to all areas of the campus, including university housing.
Burning of Material Offerings Policy
The purpose of this policy is to ensure the burning of ceremonial cultural material offerings is done in the safest possible manner, with little or no impact to other building occupants and in compliance with applicable policies and standards. This policy also provides further guidance for the cultural and religious use exception in the campus Tobacco policy. Members of the university community who want to engage in the burning of ceremonial cultural material offerings should review this procedure prior to activity. The procedure ensures that both the safety of the campus community and the cultural integrity of the ceremony is maintained.
See the Burning of Material Offerings Policy and Ceremonial Burning Procedures for additional information.
Dining
UMass Dining offers options for various religious dietary restrictions, including Halal, Kosher, vegetarian, and strict vegan options. Halal dining is available at multiple locations, indicated by the Halal icon. Kosher dining is available only in Franklin Dining Commons. Vegetarian and Plant-Based (vegan) dining is available in multiple locations, with a special vegan station located in Franklin Dining Commons. This information is accurate as of September 2023.
See UMass Dining Special Dietary Needs for additional information.
Athletics/Sports
For students who participate in intramural sports, the participant’s guide has information for those seeking accommodations for religious jewelry or headwear during intramural activities.
Please see Campus Recreation for the most up-to-date version of the policy. For convenience, the policy as of September, 2025 is included below:
Should an individual wish to request to wear jewelry or prohibited headwear during intramural activities that is religious in nature, a meeting must be scheduled with intramural sports professional staff prior to the date of the scheduled contest to ensure safety concerns can be met. No exceptions will be made at the game site for safety reasons.
UMass Athletics currently follows all NCAA policies and guidelines on religious accommodations. Please speak with Senior Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Experience or contact your sports administrator for more information.
Questions
If you have any questions about these accommodations, or have a request not covered on this page, please contact the Office of Religious & Spiritual Life at @email.