The University's efforts to accommodate students observing Passover fall in accordance with its practical new policy on religious-academic conflicts. Adopted late last July, the policy constitutes a positive effort on the part of the University to allow students to observe religious holidays without facing an academic disadvantage.
The policy exists to establish a universal regulation barring professors from penalizing students for missing classes or examinations on religious holidays. It states that students should give reasonable prior notice of a religious absence so that professors and GSIs may arrange alternative measures to ensure that students may have an opportunity to complete required coursework. The University expects that faculty will work with students to arrive at a reasonable compromise unless such a compromise would present an unreasonable burden on the faculty. The policy further outlines a general appellate route for students facing unyielding professors: Students should first approach the department chair for an override. If their problem remains unresolved, they should contact either the dean of the school or University Ombuds Jennifer Walters. Hillel governing board chair Anthony Scaglione said that students facing problems making alternative academic arrangements for Passover can seek help at Hillel if other courses of action fail.
Prior to the adoption of this policy, no blanket requirement demanded that professors or graduate student instructors take steps to accommodate students' religious observances. As a result, Scaglione said, some students often found certain professors unwilling to compromise. Though students may still find trouble eliciting a compromise from professors, the policy gives students a channel for appeals and recourse in the event that professors do not yield. Furthermore, the existence of a specific policy on religious-academic conflicts more strongly inclines faculty to provide students with alternatives. In addition to commanding all faculty to make a reasonable effort to help students, the new policy has heightened awareness on campus that religious conflicts often present problems for students of various religions. Consequently, it has sensitized the University community to the issue of religious-academic conflicts. Moreover, the policy places the University clearly on the side of the student in this matter - unlike prior years when the school took no clear stance.
Though Passover will act as the first major test of the new policy's effectiveness, the University's effort to lessen the severity of religious-academic conflicts will diminish the stress facing students whose observances sometimes clash with the school calendar. By advocating students in this matter, the University will enable religion and academia to better coincide.