Student
Absences for Religious Holy Days UPPS
No. 02.06.01
Issue No. 3
Effective Date: 10/20/2004
Review: January 1 E4Y
01. POLICY
STATEMENT
01.01 The purpose of this UPPS is to establish
the policy and procedures governing student absences on religious holy days.
02. DEFINITION
02.01 "Religious holy day" means a
holy day observed by a religion whose places of worship are exempt from
property taxation under Section 11.20, Tax Code.
03. PROCEDURES
CONCERNING STUDENT ABSENCES ON RELIGIOUS HOLY DAYS
03.01 In accordance with Texas Education Code Section
51.911, Texas State will allow a student who is absent from classes for the
observance of a religious holy day to take an examination or complete an
assignment scheduled for that absent day within a reasonable time after the
absence if the student notifies the instructor of each class that he or she would
be absent for a religious holy day. The Education Code includes excused
absences for travel to and from the religious holy day observance. The student
may make up class assignments or examinations without penalty within a
reasonable time after the absence.
03.02 Students may obtain notification forms
from the Dean of Students’ Office. The student should personally deliver
completed forms to the instructor for each class. The instructor will sign and
date the form, thus acknowledging notification. If the student cannot
personally deliver the form to an instructor, the student should mail the form
to the instructor by certified mail, return receipt requested.
03.03 A student who is excused under this
section shall not be penalized for the absence, but the instructor may
appropriately respond if the student fails to satisfactorily complete the
assignment or examination within a reasonable time.
03.04 Each instructor may establish additional
procedures to accommodate the needs of students who are absent from classes to
observe a religious holy day. These procedures must not conflict with the state
law.
03.05 Coordinating Board rules now provide for
an appeal of a disagreement between the student and a faculty member over an
absence related to a religious holy day. If a student and an instructor
disagree about the nature of the absence being for the observance of a
religious holy day, or if there is a disagreement about whether the student has
been given a reasonable time to complete any missed assignments or
examinations, either the student or the instructor may request a ruling from
the President or the President’s designee. The President or the President’s
designee must take into account the legislative intent of Education Code Section
51.911. The student and instructor shall abide by the decision of the President
or the President’s designee.
03.06 The academic dean of each college serves
at the President’s designee to hear requests for decisions on these
matters from either the faculty member or the student.
04. PROCEDURES
FOR PUBLICATION
04.01 Notification of the policies and
procedures contained in this UPPS shall be made as follows:
a. By publication annually in the
student handbook;
b. By memorandum from the Dean of
Students to all department chairs, and faculty members at the beginning of each
academic year;
c. By the Vice President for Academic
Affairs through publication in the Faculty Handbook; and
d. By the Registrar through other
appropriate student publications.
05. REVIEWERS
OF THIS UPPS
05.01 Reviewers of this UPPS include the
following:
Position Date
Dr. Perry Moore,
Provost and January
1 E4Y
Vice President for
Academic Affairs
Mr. William L. Fly January
1 E4Y
University Attorney
Dr. John Garrison January
1 E4Y
Dean of Students
06. CERTIFICATION
STATEMENT
This UPPS has been approved by the
following individuals in their official capacities and represents
Dr. Perry Moore, Provost and Vice
President for Academic Affairs; senior reviewer of this UPPS
Dr. Denise M. Trauth, President