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 (Spring 2025). Please do not send this text as-is. Instead, check which of your actual classes occur on these date/s 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:

  • Passover Day Two: Monday, April 14, 2025.

I am following WashU's Religious Holiday Class Absence Policy, which can be found at https://orsel.washu.edu/support/religious-spiritual-holidays/.

Thank you for your understanding,

[Your Name]

(These are the only work-restricted Jewish religious holiday that fall out on weekdays during SP2025.)