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 2021-22 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 | July 17, 2021 |
| Rosh Hashanah | Jewish | September 7 - September 8, 2021 |
| Yom Kippur | Jewish | September 16, 2021 |
| Simchat Torah | Jewish | September 29, 2021 |
| Dasara | Hindu | October 15, 2021 |
| Diwali | Hindu | November 4, 2021 |
| Birth of the Báb | Baha'i | November 6, 2021 |
| Hanukkah | Jewish | November 29 - December 6, 2021 |
| Bodhi Day (Rohatsu) | Buddhist | December 8, 2021 |
| Feast of Immaculate Conception of Mary | Christian | December 8, 2021 |
| Christmas | Christian | December 25, 2021 |
| Solemnity of Mary | Christian | January 1, 2022 |
| Feast of the Epiphany | (Orthodox) Christian | January 6, 2022 |
| Mahayana New Year | Buddhist | January 18, 2022 |
| Nirvana Day | Buddhist | February 15, 2022 |
| Magha Puja Day Ramadan |
Buddhist Islam |
February 16, 2022 |
| Holy Week | (Orthodox) Christian | April 10 - April 16, 2022 |
| Good Friday | Christian | April 15, 2022 |
| Passover | Jewish | April 16 - April 23, 2022 |
| Therevada New Year | Buddhist | April 16, 2022 |
| Easter | Christian | April 17, 2022 |
| Festival of Ridvan | Baha'i | April 19, 2022 |
| Easter | (Orthodox) Christian | April 24, 2022 |
| Yom Ha Shoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) Eid al-Fitr |
Jewish Islam |
April 28, 2022 May 13 - 14, 2022 |
| Buddha Day (Visakha Puja) | Buddhist | May 8, 2022 |
| Declaration of the Bab | Baha'i | May 24, 2022 |
| Ascension Day | (Orthodox) Christian | May 26, 2022 |
| Ascension of Bahá-u'lláh | Baha'i | May 29, 2022 |
| Shavuot | Jewish | June 4, 2022 |
| Eid-a-Adha | Islam | July 19, 2022 |