In addition to calendar guidelines as approved by WVU Faculty Senate in May 2017, the University provides additional policies and guidance for faculty when planning their academic terms.
Attendance Policies
While instructors or programs set attendance requirements and policies that are appropriate for the goals and instructional strategies of their courses, the University has a number of attendance policies that guide their efforts. Information about University-sanctioned absences, excused absences, attendance policy, military leave, and WVU’s emergency leave policy can be found in the WVU catalog.
University Closure
University closure constitutes university-sanctioned absence from all face-to-face courses; this does not include students in clinical rotations. During university closure, instructors in classes for whom their campus is closed should not expect students to turn in assignments in person. For assignments that are due in a course whose campus is closed and for which the learning management system or other electronic methods of submission have not been established as regular methods to submit assignments, the deadline must be pushed back until the next day that the University is open or the next time the particular class is in session.
Days of Special Concern
West Virginia University’s diverse student body includes students from a wide variety of faith communities. Religious holidays from different faith traditions occasionally fall on regular class days or scheduled exam days throughout the year.
Faculty are encouraged to respect the religious observances of our students of all faiths and denominations.
WVU's student organizations have recognized the following holy days as the most important to their respective religions:
- Yom Kippur
- Rosh Hashanah
- Eid al-Adha
- Eid al-Fitr
When a scheduled class or lab session falls on an observed religious holiday, this
may mean excusing students from attending class and accepting make-up work.
Students observing the Islamic month of Ramadan includes practicing spiritual reflection,
compassion, generosity as well as fasting from sunrise to sunset, which can vary
from day-to-day. An important part of each day is the breaking of the fast (f'tour
or iftar) at sunset. Faculty are asked to be aware of and compassionate to students
observing Ramadan.
In some years, students will be observing Ramadan during final exams. Students observing Ramadan may ask to reschedule exams. If they do, faculty are asked to please consider scheduling an alternative exam time.
Students are responsible for requesting accommodation for their absence in advance and for making up any missed work. Students should submit requests for excused absences for religious observations to their instructors a minimum of two weeks in advance of the absence. It is preferred that students submit their requested absences for religious observances to their instructors at the beginning of the semester.
The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Office of Global Affairs, and the Provost's Office are available as resources to support Instructors review of religious holiday accommodation requests.
The Interfaith Calendar website may be helpful in identifying the high holy days of various religions.