The diverse community of American University celebrates several different religious and cultural holidays. Please be mindful of the following dates during the 2021-22 academic year that may require accommodation and are observed by a meaningful proportion of the AU community.  This list is not exhaustive of all holidays or observances, nor active religious communities on campus.  For an expansive list of religious and cultural holidays, click here.

For Jewish and Islamic holidays, one should consider the observance beginning at sundown on the day before the holiday; sundown will be at a multitude of times in a virtual teaching environment.  Jewish holy days end one hour after sunset of the concluding day. Islamic and Hindu holy days may also vary depending on the sighting of the moon.  

Many religious traditions also observe specific times of fasting. Given the impact that fasting may have on a student’s ability to demonstrate their full academic potential, students may request alternative scheduling for exams and assignment during these periods. Such accommodations should be sought at the earliest opportunity in conversation with a professor, and we anticipate that a meaningful arrangement can be made.

For some of the traditions represented on campus, the cessation of regular activities and/or work is a component of the holiday; this would impact a student’s participation in class and completion of assignments on those dates. It should be noted that preference to observe a religious or cultural holiday at a specific place or time, if not a component of the observance, does not qualify for an accommodation.  

The student is responsible for notifying their professor of conflicts with course materials and a religious or cultural observance in a timely manner. The expectation is that an arrangement can be made between the professor and the student. The student is responsible for managing the lost study and work time as a result of an observance. Students should not be penalized for excused absences and are required to make-up materials missed from an accommodation.   

If you need to make a request for a religious accommodation, you can do so through our online form.

If you have any questions about the policy or about religious observance, please contact the Office of the University Chaplain at KSLC@american.edu.

These are the obvservances that may require an accommodation: