Dec 12, 2024  
2020-2021 Graduate Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Graduate Catalog [Not Current Academic Year. Consult with Your Academic Advisor for Your Catalog Year]

Religious Holy Days


Policies  > Academic Policies and Procedures > Religious Holy Days

The University of Houston respects the religious observances of students even though they may conflict with university class meetings, assignments, or examinations.

The University of Houston excuses a student from classes or other required activities, including examinations, for the observance of a religious holy day, including travel for that purpose.

A student whose absence is excused under this policy shall be treated consistently with the instructor’s policies and procedures relating to other excused absences, except that no instructor’s policy may deny the opportunity for make-up work and examinations, as described below.

Students are encouraged to inform instructors about upcoming religious holy days early in the term to enable better planning and coordination of work assignments (and examinations).

Instructors are encouraged to announce reasonable time periods for make-up work (and exams) in the course syllabus and to make clear the consequences of a student’s failure to meet such time requirements.

If a student and an instructor disagree about whether the absence is for the observance of a religious holy day, or if they disagree about whether the student has been given a reasonable time to complete any missed assignments or examinations, either the student or the instructor may appeal to The Graduate School. All parties must abide by the decision of that office.

Eligible religions are those whose places of worship are exempt from property taxation. For further information about state law, please see the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Texas Administrative Code §4.4 Student Absences on Religious Holy Days; or contact the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs, the Dean of Students, and/or the A.D. Bruce Religion Center to review the policy.