AVPA memo: Religious accommodations and exams

Dear Colleagues, 

I write today because there are a substantial number of important religions holidays that will occur during the exam period in Winter 2023. The University’s regulations on providing accommodations with respect to assignments, tests, and final examinations note that “ the University acknowledges that, due to the pluralistic nature of the University community, some students may seek accommodations on religious grounds,” and imply that these requests should be accommodated.  

This table lists some important dates for various religions that fall within (or overlap) the exam period and which, unlike some important mainstream Christian dates, are not statutory holidays.  

How we encourage you to accommodate these requests 

The same regulations state that: 

If a student is granted an accommodation to postpone a final examination, the exam is to be written no later than the student's next academic term when the course is offered. The examination may be written earlier if the student and the instructor mutually agree upon a time.  

It is my view that asking a student to wait until the next term when a course is offered (in general, but in particular in the case of a religious accommodation) is not fair to the student and is not in keeping with the University’s commitment to maintaining a welcoming, pluralistic campus. They are, in addition, generally inconvenient for instructors and programs. 

The University has recently begun scheduling exam make-up sessions precisely to make it easier for instructors to offer accommodations that are not unfair in this way. These are the scheduled sessions for Winter 2023. I urge you to make use of them if you can. 

To be included in one of these make-up sessions, student information must be entered into Odyssey. This information can be entered by the instructor, course coordinator/advisor, or an exam representative. 

I know you will happily accommodate moving your exam for any of these religious holidays. I strongly encourage that you do so by setting an alternative time during this term’s exam period.