Religious Holidays
Snow College values and acknowledges a wide range of faiths and religions as part of our student body and, as such, provides religious accommodations for students when requested.
In Accordance with Utah Code 53B-27-405 and Utah System of Higher Education policy R264 institutions shall provide Religious Accommodations for students. “Religious Accommodation” means a schedule modification of an examination or academic requirement because of the student’s faith, conscience, or participation in an organized activity under the student’s religious tradition or religious organization. A religious accommodation may include, but is not limited to, rescheduling, or providing a make-up exam, rescheduling a student’s in-class presentation, allowing a make-up assignment to substitute for missed class work, changing a course assignment’s due date, or excusing an absence from the course.
Students must provide written notice requesting a religious accommodation to the instructor of their class at least 14 days prior to the requested religious holiday in accordance with the procedures below:
Examples of Religious Holidays
| Holiday | Religion | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Dormition of the Holy Virgin | Greek Orthodox | August 15 |
| Mawlid al-Nabi | Islam | September 4 to September 5 |
| Autumnal Equinox | Pagan | September 22 |
| Rosh Hashanah | Judaism | September 22 through September 24 |
| Navratri | Hinduism | September 22 through October 2 |
| Fast of Gedaliah | Judaism | September 25 |
| Yom Kippur | Judaism | October 1 through October 2 |
| Dussehra | Hinduism | October 2 |
| Sukkot | Judaism | October 6 through October 13 |
| Shemini Atzeret | Judaism | October 13 through October 15 |
| Simchat Torah | Judaism | October 14 through October 15 |
| Diwali | Hinduism Buddhism Sikh Jain | October 18 through October 22 |
| The Ochi Day | Greek Orthodox | October 28 |
| Samhain | Pagan | October 31 to November 1 |
| All Saints Day | Roman Catholic Unitarian Universalist | November 1 |
| All Souls Day | Christian Unitarian Universalist | November 2 |
| Birth of the Bab | Baha’i | October 22 |
| Birth of Bahá'u'lláh | Baha’i | October 23 |
| First Sunday of Advent | Christian | November 30 |
| Feast of the Immaculate Conception | Roman Catholic | December 8 |
| Bodhi Day | Buddhism | December 8 |
| Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe | Roman Catholic | December 12 |
| Hanukkah/Chanukah | Judaism | December 14 through December 22 |
| Yule | Pagan | December 21 through January 1 |
| Joseph Smith's Birthday | Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | December 23 |
| Christmas | Christian Unitarian Universalist | December 25 |
| Synaxis of the Mother of God | Greek Orthodox | December 26 |
| Fast of the 10th of Tevet | Judaism | December 30 |
| Gantan-sai | Shinto | January 1 |
| The Solemnity of Mary | Roman Catholic | January 1 |
| Epiphany | Christian | January 6 |
| Christmas | Orthodox Christian | January 7 |
| Pongal | Hinduism | Jaunuary 14 through January 17 |
| Imbolc | Pagan | February 1 |
| Setsubun-sai | Shinto | February 3 |
| Tu BiShvat | Judaism | February 1 through February 2 |
| Maha Shivaratri | Hinduism | February 15 through February 16 |
| Ramadan | Islam | February 17 through March 19 |
| Start of Lent and Ash Wednesday | Christian | February 18 |
| Clean Monday (Monday of Lent) | Orthodox Christian | February 23 |
| Fast of Esther | Judaism | March 2 |
| Purim | Judaism | March 2 through March 3 |
| Holi | Hinduism | March 4 |
| Women's Day of Prayer | Multifaith | March 6 |
| Laylat al-Qadr | Islam | March 16 |
| Spring Equinox | Pagan | March 20 |
| Annunciation of the Virgin Mary | Greek Orthodox | March 25 |
| Eid al-Fitr | Islam | March 19 through March 20 |
| Palm Sunday | Christian Unitarian Universalist | March 29 |
| Fast of the First Born | Judaism | April 1 |
| Passover (Pesach) | Judaism | April 1 through April 9 |
| Holy (Maundy) Thursday | Christian Unitarian Universalist | April 2 |
| Great Friday | Orthodox Christian | April 3 |
| Good Friday | Christian Unitarian Universalist | April 3 |
| Easter | Christian Unitarian Universalist | April 5 |
| Orthodox Easter | Orthodox Christian | April 12 |
| Vesak | Buddhism | May 1 |
| Ascension Day | Christian | May 14 |
| Orthodox Ascension Day | Orthodox Christian | May 21 |
| Eid al-Adha | Islam | May 26 through May 27 |
| Pentecost | Christian Unitarian Universalist | May 24 |
| Holy Spirit Monday | Greek Orthodox | June 1 |
| Muharram | Islam | June 16 |
| Ashura | Islam | June 25 through June 26 |
| Asalha Puja Day | Buddhism | July 29 |
Process for Requesting an Accommodation
- Students
- Snow College may make religious accommodations if:
-
The time at which an examination or academic requirement is scheduled to occur creates an undue hardship for a student due to the student's Religious Belief, Practice, or Observance; AND
The student provides written notice to the Faculty Member of the course for which the student seeks the accommodation regarding the date and/or other relevant information, of the examination or academic requirement for which the student seeks the accommodation;
OR
- As otherwise required by law to accommodate a student's free exercise of religion.
- Process
- A student's first step should be to make a request to a Faculty Member of the relevant course or activity. If the student is seeking a waiver or substitution of an entire course as required by their program of study, the student should contact their program's Department Chair and not the Faculty Member assigned to that course. If step one is unsuccessful, a student shall make a request for a review of a religious accommodation request by using Snow College’s Religious Holiday Accommodation Request form. The student should request any such accommodation at least 14 days prior to the event, if applicable.
- A Faculty Member who receives a written request from a student may provide a student the requested accommodation if it does not create an Undue Hardship. For example, the Faculty Member may schedule an alternative examination time before or after the regularly scheduled examination, or as applicable, the Faculty Member may make accommodations for other academic or other program requirements related to the requested accommodation.
- The Faculty Member shall, to the extent necessary to accomplish the requested accommodation, keep confidential the student's request for accommodation and any related information.
- If the student's accommodation request is not granted by the Faculty Member or if the Faculty Member is uncertain as to how to respond to the request, the student or Faculty Member may refer the request to the designated Provost's designee for an evaluation using the College's Religious Holiday Accommodation Request.
- The Provost's designee will evaluate the request and determine whether to approve the requested accommodation, in accordance with applicable laws.
- In evaluating the request, the Provost's designee will consider the requirements of this Policy and whether attendance or other academic requirements would create an Undue Hardship. This analysis includes taking into consideration fundamental academic and other requirements of the University.
- The Provost's designee may engage in interactive dialogue with the student, and as necessary, the Faculty Member to gather information regarding the requested accommodation and academic requirements.
- Faculty Members shall adhere to accommodations approved by the Provost's designee.
- Accommodations provided by a Faculty Member or Provost's designee shall not adversely impact a student's academic opportunities.
- Point of Contact
- The Provost's Office serves as the point of contact for information about student religious accommodation requests.
- For reference, the Utah System of Higher Education produces a non-exhaustive list of dates of generally recognized religious holidays for some religions. This list is not exhaustive and does not prohibit a student from requesting an accommodation related to a religious holiday not included on the published list.
- Appeals
- If the student's accommodation request is not granted through the Provost's designee, the student may appeal in writing via email to the Provost within three (3) business days of receiving notice that the accommodation request is denied.
- The Provost will evaluate the appeal and all related documentation for compliance with this Policy and applicable law.
- The Provost has discretion to determine whether to grant or deny accommodation requests, in accordance with applicable law.
- Upon making a determination, the Provost will issue a written decision including the reason(s) and factual bases for the decision.
- The Provost's decision is the final decision of the College regarding the accommodation and not subject to further appeal. However, a final decision on the accommodation may be the subject of grievance under Section R765-264-5 if the challenge is within the scope of that policy. A grievance can be submitted to the Provost’s Office using the Religious Holiday Accommodation Grievance form.
Provost Office: 435.283.7300
Dean of Students: 435.283.7710