Academic Calendar

Special Days of Concern

West Virginia University’s diverse student body includes students from a wide variety of faith communities. Religious holidays from different faith traditions occasionally fall on regular class days or scheduled exam days throughout the year.

Faculty are encouraged to respect the religious observances of our students of all faiths and denominations.

When a scheduled class or lab session falls on an observed religious holiday, this may mean excusing students from attending class and accepting make-up work. (Students are responsible for requesting accommodation for their absence in advance and for making up any missed work.)

The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion,  Office of Global Affairs, and the  Provost's Office are available as resources to support Instructors review of religious holiday accommodation requests.

The following website may be helpful in identifying the high holy days of various religions:

• The Interfaith Calendar

Other events that may justify an excused absence include illness of the student, illness of an immediate family member, death of an immediate family member, or extreme weather.

Absences stemming from work duties other than military obligation (e.g., unexpected changes in shift assignments) and traffic/transit problems should not typically qualify for excused absence.

If an instructor chooses to allow excused absences for these other events, the stated attendance policy for the course should specify the number of days that may be missed and instructions for contacting the instructor for the excused absence.

Instructors may request third party documentation.

West Virginia University's institutional attendance policy may be found in the  WVU Catalog.

Faculty members who have questions or concerns about the academic calendar should send an email to  Shirley Robinson in the Provost's Office.