University of Michigan Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
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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 2008 and 2009 academic calendars:

 

2008 Holidays
Feast of the Epiphany January 6
Eastern Orthodox Christmas (Julian Calendar) January 7
Sankranti January 14
Ash Wednesday February 6
Chinese New Year & Tet February 7
Eastern Orthodox Beginning of Lent March 10
Good Friday March 21
Baisakhi April 13
Passover (Pesach)* April 19-27
Eastern Orthodox Good Friday April 25
Ascension Day May 1
Eastern Orthodox Ascension Day June 5
Shavuot* June 8-10
Ramadhan** September 1-30
Rosh Hashanah* September 29-October 1
Id al-Fitr** October 1
Yom Kippur* October 8-9
Sukkot* October 13-15
Shemini Atzeret* October 20-22
Diwali** October 28-30
Id al-Adha** December 8
  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

*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.

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