WashU has updated its policy for missing classes to more fairly accommodate students who miss class, exams, or assignments, owing to religious observance.

The policy states: “Students who plan to miss class for a religious holiday must inform their instructors in writing before the end of the third week of class, or as soon as possible if the holiday occurs during the first three weeks of the semester.”

You can read the entire policy here (pdf).

Here is a sample text of the email for this semester (Fall 2024). Please do not send this text as-is. Instead, check which of your actual classes occur on these dates and email the professor with the dates relevant to you.

Hello Professor [Name],

Please note that I will need to miss class for religious reasons on the following work-restricted Jewish holidays:

  • Rosh Hashana: From sunset on October 2 through nightfall on October 4.
  • Sukkot: From sunset on October 16 through nightfall on October 18.
  • Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah: From sunset on October 23 through nightfall on October 25.

I am following WashU's Religious Holiday Class Absence Policy, which can be found at https://students.wustl.edu/religious-celebration-calendar.

Thank you for your understanding,

[Your Name]

(These are the only work-restricted Jewish religious holiday that fall out on weekdays during FL2024.)