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Religious Holidays

Information for Students Regarding Religious Holidays and Academic Conflicts

Below is a list of the religious holidays that might pose conflicts with the 2009 and 2010 academic calendars:

 

2009 Holidays
Feast of the Epiphany January 6
Eastern Orthodox Christmas (Julian Calendar) January 7
Sankranti January 14
Chinese New Year & Tet January 26
Ash Wednesday February 25
Eastern Orthodox Beginning of Lent March 2
Passover (Pesach)* April 8-16
Good Friday April 10
Baisakhi April 13
Eastern Orthodox Good Friday April 17
Ascension Day May 21
Eastern Orthodox Ascension Day May 28
Shavuot* May 28-30
Paryushan** August 16-24
Ramadhan** August 21-September 19
Rosh Hashanah* September 18-20
Id al-Fitr** September 20
Yom Kippur* September 27-28
Sukkot* October 2-4
Shemini Atzeret* October 9-11
Diwali** October 17-19
Id al-Adha** November 27
2010 Holidays
Feast of the Epiphany January 6
Eastern Orthodox Christmas (Julian Calendar) January 7
Sankranti January 14
Chinese New Year & Tet February 14
Eastern Orthodox Beginning of Lent February 15
Ash Wednesday February 17
Passover (Pesach)* March 29-April 6
Good Friday April 2
Eastern Orthodox Good Friday April 2
Baisakhi April 13
Ascension Day May 13
Eastern Orthodox Ascension Day May 13
Shavuot* May 18-20

 

*Jewish holy days begin and end at sundown on the first and last days listed.

**These holidays are calculated on a lunar calendar and are approximate.

Information for Students Regarding Religious Holidays and Academic Conflicts

Although the University of Michigan, as an institution, does not observe religious holidays, it has long been the University's policy that every reasonable effort should be made to help students avoid negative academic consequences when their religious obligations conflict with academic requirements. Absence from classes or examinations for religious reasons does not relieve students from responsibility for any part of the course work required during the period of absence. Students who expect to miss classes, examinations, or other assignments as a consequence of their religious observance shall be provided with a reasonable alternative opportunity to complete such academic responsibilities. It is the obligation of students to provide faculty with reasonable notice of the dates of religious holidays on which they will be absent. Such notice must be given by the drop/add deadline of the given term. Students who are absent on days of examinations or class assignments shall be offered an opportunity to make up the work, without penalty, unless it can be demonstrated that a make-up opportunity would interfere unreasonably with the delivery of the course. Should disagreement arise over any aspect of this policy, the parties involved should contact the Department Chair, the Dean of the School, or the Ombudsperson. Final appeals will be resolved by the Provost.