Religious Observance for 2009-2010

MEMORANDUM

To:     All Faculty

From: Antonio Cepeda-Benito, Dean of Faculties and Associate Provost

Date:  September 28, 2009

Re:     Student Absences for Religious Holy Days 2009-10

Texas House Bill 256 and TAMU Student Rule 7 (“Absences”)
Enacted by the Texas Legislature and effective 9/1/03, Texas House Bill 256 amends Chapter 51: Education Code, Section 51.911, and reads (in part):

“An institution of higher education shall excuse a student from attending 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 subsection may not be penalized for that absence and shall be allowed to take an examination or complete an assignment from which the student is excused within a reasonable amount of time after the absence.”

The language of House Bill 256 was adopted into Texas A&M Student Rule 7, Appendix IV (http://student-rules.tamu.edu/append4; Revised 2005): “Excused Absences for Religious Holy Days.”  A “religious holy day” is defined as one observed by a religion whose places of worship are exempt from property taxation under Section 11.20, Tax Code.

We have attached a list of holy days that in the past have occurred during the official academic calendar. This list is not exhaustive and was compiled using specific criteria, which we give along with the list. Faculty should consider granting excused-absence requests also for holy days that are not on the list but may be appropriate requests (the Dean of Faculties and Associate Provost can help faculty in assessing the legitimacy of such requests). In addition, faculty should take particular care when scheduling class-related events outside regular class days. There might be prominent holy days the list overlooks because they rarely, if ever conflict with the official schedule (please note that appropriate pre-approval is required for scheduling events outside the official calendar).  

For more extended lists of holy days and their description, we encourage you to explore the following websites:

·The Interfaith Calendar- http://www.interfaithcalendar.org/
·PBS.org Multifaith Calendar- http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/multifaith-calendar/ 

Providing Accommodation for an Absence
Whereas neither the House Bill nor the corresponding System Regulation (http://tamus.edu/offices/policy/policies/pdf/31-04-01.pdf) require that the student notify the instructor prior to an excused absence for religious observation. The Texas A&M University Student Rules allow faculty to require that the student, “Must notify his or her instructor in writing . . . prior to the date of the absence.”  I ask that you accommodate students in a manner that is not only reasonable but also conveys the message that the University recognizes the importance of religious holy days. I also ask that you consider adopting the practice of accepting requests for accommodation due to the observance of a religious holy day even when students do not notify you prior to the date of the absence. Because the academic calendar is not equally accommodating of all religions, the current Student Rule disproportionally adds an undue hardship on students from religious minority groups, those who already shoulder the additional burden of juggling the observance of their religious obligations, class attendance, and other academic activities.

If you have concerns about the implementation of this Bill, please feel free to contact Antonio Cepeda-Benito, Dean of Faculties and Associate Provost at 845-4274 or acepeda@tamu.edu.

2009–2010 Texas A&M Scheduled Holidays

TAMU holidays are set by the Texas state legislature.  Below is a list of the official holidays when Texas A&M will be closed:

• Nov. 26–27, 2009                            Thanksgiving                                    
• Dec. 23, 2009–Jan. 1, 2010           Holiday Break                                  
• Jan. 18, 2010                                    Martin Luther King, Jr. Day          
• March 18–19, 2010                          Spring Break                                    
• May 31, 2010                                     Memorial Day                                   

The Governor of the State of Texas may also declare special holidays, which are communicated to the campus community by the Office of the President. See the Academic Calendar for exact dates at http://admissions.tamu.edu/Registrar/General/Calendar.aspx.

2009–2010 Days of Religious Observance

The list is not meant to be exhaustive, and is based upon the following criteria:

• It is recognized as a property tax-exempt religion by the state of Texas under Section 11.20, Tax Code;
• The religious holy date is a day of obligation generally requiring followers of the faith to miss class/work;
• The date occurs on or includes a weekday (dates that occur only on a Saturday and/or Sunday or when classes do not meet are not listed);
• It occurs on a day when students are normally expected to attend classes; 
• Days of religious observance falling on reading days, during semester breaks, or on previously scheduled State holidays and TAMU breaks (listed above) are not included.

The 2009–2010 list of holy days falling on a regular class day is as follows:

Important Notes and Information:

• Jewish, Muslim, and Baha’i holidays begin at sundown prior to the first date listed;
• The Islamic (Muslim) year begins with Muharram. All Islamic dates are subject to sighting of the moon; an event may be one day earlier or later than the date listed;
• Although the dates are not listed here, for those of the Islamic faith, Friday afternoon prayer is a time set aside each week for expressing collective devotion, and is looked-upon as obligatory;
• If possible, please avoid scheduling exams on these dates.

If you have any questions, please contact Antonio Cepeda-Benito at 845-4274 or acepeda@tamu.edu.  Thank you.