Religious Observance

The SOM policy on religious observation allows examinations to be missed for religious reasons, and the completion examination schedule used instead.

A student who wishes to observe a religious holiday on an examination date may take a completion examination on the scheduled date if appropriate protocol is followed for documenting the religious observance.

Specifically, at the beginning of each term, the Dean of Students (DOS) office will invite students via email to register the dates of their religious holidays that conflict with their examination schedule for that term. Students who fail to register these dates within two weeks from the start of each term will not receive an excused absence from examinations.

This protocol must be followed each term. The protocol does not cover any dates of travel associated with the religious observance beyond the actual religious holiday. All completion examinations are scheduled after the semester ends, as per the official Academic Class Schedule published on the Office of the University Registrar site.

In the case of multiday examinations (e.g. OSCE) if students are not sure whether their individual time slot will overlap with the religious holiday, an application should be made to DOS assuming overlap so that the course director is aware that a completion may need to be offered. Please note that the religious observation policy is for examinations only. Participation in other course activities falls within the 80:20 rule (i.e. a minimum of 80% participation is required as set out in the Part B of the Syllabus) irrespective of reason for missing an activity.