Religious Holidays
Washington and Lee University values diverse religious perspectives and beliefs. Our students celebrate and value a variety of religious traditions. We are committed to supporting our students in observing their religious holidays, while also maintaining their commitment to their academic efforts. The catalog states the following university policy:
Any student who is unable, because of his or her religious holiday(s), to attend classes or to participate in any examination, study, athletic, or work requirement on a particular day shall be provided an opportunity to satisfy the requirement in a timely manner or shall be excused from the requirement. Specifically,
- Undergraduate students should reach out to their faculty member, adviser, supervisor, or coach, within the first two weeks of class in fall or winter term, two days in spring term, and again prior to the religious holiday to discuss how best to make up the missed requirement.
- Law students should reach out to their faculty member within the first two weeks of class in the relevant semester and again prior to the religious holiday to discuss how best to make up the missed requirement.
No adverse or prejudicial effects shall result to any student who makes use of this provision of university policy.
The faculty (including coaches) receive annual reminders of this policy and are encouraged to work carefully with students in anticipating and resolving conflicts to their mutual satisfaction.
As stipulated in the Faculty Handbook, apart from absences for observance of religious holidays, faculty may set their own attendance policies and have discretion to designate absences for other reasons as "excused" or "unexcused" based upon their professional judgement." (Revised policy approved by the faculty January 7, 2019)
A representative list of holy days for the 2020-21 academic year from several major traditions follows. These are only representative holidays and this list is not exhaustive. For a more complete listing, please visit the Interfaith Calendar.
| Holiday/Tradition | Religion | Date(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Hajj Day | Islam | Tuesday, July 28, 2020 |
| Eid-a-Adha | Islam | Friday, July 31, 2020 |
| Rosh Hashanah | Jewish | September 18 - September 20, 2020 |
| Dasara | Hindu | Sunday, October 25, 2020 |
| Yom Kippur | Jewish | Sunday, September 27, 2020 |
| Birth of the Báb | Baha'i | Saturday, October 17, 2020 |
| Simchat Torah | Jewish | Saturday, October 10, 2020 |
| Diwali | Hindu | Saturday, November 14, 2020 |
| Bodhi Day (Rohatsu) | Buddhist | Tuesday, December 8, 2020 |
| Feast of Immaculate Conception of Mary | Christian | Tuesday, December 8, 2020 |
| Hanukkah | Jewish | December 10-18, 2020 |
| Christmas | Christian | Friday, December 25, 2020 |
| Solemnity of Mary | Christian | Friday, January 01, 2021 |
| Feast of the Epiphany | (Orthodox) Christian | Wednesday, January 06, 2021 |
| Mahayana New Year | Buddhist | Thursday, January 28, 2021 |
| Nirvana Day | Buddhist | Monday, February 08, 2021 |
| Magha Puja Day | Buddhist | Sunday, March 28, 2021 |
| Holy Week | (Orthodox) Christian | March 28 - April 3, 2021 |
| Good Friday | Christian | Friday, April 02, 2021 |
| Therevada New Year | Buddhist | Tuesday, April 27, 2021 |
| Passover | Jewish | Saturday, March 27 - Sunday, April 4, 2021 |
| Easter | Christian | Sunday, April 04, 2021 |
| Easter | (Orthodox) Christian | Sunday, May 02, 2021 |
| Festival of Ridvan | Baha'i | Friday, April 16, 2021 |
| Yom Ha Shoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) | Jewish | Thursday, April 08, 2021 |
| Buddha Day (Visakha Puja) | Buddhist | Wednesday, May 26, 2021 |
| Declaration of the Bab | Baha'i | Sunday, May 23, 2021 |
| Ascension of Bahá-u'lláh | Baha'i | Saturday, May 29, 2021 |
| Ascension Day | (Orthodox) Christian | Thursday, June 10, 2021 |
| Shavuot | Jewish | Monday, May 17, 2021 |