Dear faculty and students,
At a recent Faculty Senate meeting, Rice students gave an educational presentation and requested academic accommodations for upcoming religious holidays, specifically Ramadan and Passover. I’m writing to ask you to make every reasonable effort to allow undergraduate and graduate students to observe these and all religious holidays without impacting their academic success and to provide you with helpful resources.
The Office of the Dean of Undergraduates offers a sample list of religious holidays that may pose conflicts for students; Rice’s Center for Teaching Excellence also offers language to consider including on your syllabi. Faculty are expected to provide flexibility and alternative arrangements when students miss classes, exams, labs or other assignments because of religious observances.
If students have conflicting commitments, they are expected to notify their professors at the earliest possible date.
Respecting the observance of religious holidays is important as it fosters spiritual connection, strengthens community bonds, preserves cultural heritage, promotes personal reflection and growth, and provides individuals with a sense of purpose and meaning in their lives.
Making reasonable accommodations is consistent with Rice’s core values of diversity and inclusion, culture of care and our nondiscrimination policy. Thank you for your partnership in creating and maintaining a diverse, inclusive campus culture.
Warm regards,
Amy Dittmar, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs