T-Reqs: Trinity Requirements, Policies & Procedures

Trinity College

Religious Holidays

Policy

In recognition that observance of religious holidays may affect students’ classroom attendance and the submission of graded work in courses, Trinity College and the Pratt School of Engineering have established procedures to be followed by students for notifying their instructors of an absence necessitated by the observance of a religious holiday.  This policy reflects the University’s commitment to being responsive to our increasing diversity and to enabling students’ spiritual development.  In accordance with the policy, students who miss class to observe a specified religious holiday are expected to make prior arrangements with their instructor to make up any work missed. If an instructor is unable or unwilling to grant the request, the student should consult his or her academic dean. Absence from class due to observance of a religious holiday is excused according to University policy, so no dean's excuse is required.

Procedure

• The religious observance notification procedure is based on the operating principle that you will act in accordance with the Duke Community Standard.
• This procedure can only be used to notify an instructor of an absence from class necessitated by observance of a religious holiday. 
• You are expected to notify your instructor that you will miss class in order to observe a religious holiday by completing the secure, online Religious Observance Notification Form.          

                        

Note: it is strongly recommended that you notify each of your instructors, using this form, at the beginning of the semester of the religious holidays that will necessitate your absence from classes and that you send an additional notification at least one class before each anticipated absence.

• When you submit this form, your instructor will be notified by e-mail, and copies will be sent to you and to your academic dean.  In completing the form, you may find it useful to consult the Registrar's ACES Web site where you can view your class schedule to obtain the name and number of the course and the name of the course instructor.
• Given the time limitations inherent in completing end-of-semester assignments or making up a missed final exam, this procedure cannot be used during the final exam period. You are expected to take final examinations at the scheduled times and to complete end-of-semester work by the deadlines set by the instructor.  In the event that a religious holiday should fall during exam week, contact your academic dean as soon as possible, preferably before the scheduled assignment or exam.
• Since religious holidays are scheduled in advance, you are expected to formally notify your instructor of your impending absence prior to the class period that will be missed due to observance of a religious holiday.
• You are also expected to make prior arrangements with your instructor for completion of any work missed during your absence due to observance of a religious holiday. Since your instructor may want to use the same exercise that the rest of the class has completed, you are obligated to avoid obtaining any information about that graded exercise that would give you an unfair advantage over other students taking the course.
• Your electronic signature on the form affirms your compliance with the Duke Community Standard.