Policy on Students and Religious Observances

Our Commitment | NYS Education Law §224-A | Days of Religious Observance | Official Academic Calendars (Office of the Registrar)

Our Commitment 

SUNY Downstate is committed to ensuring that every student will have the right to pursue their education while practicing their faith.  To accomplish this, working in collaboration between the Offices of the Deans of our academic schools and colleges, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and the Division of Student Affairs, and in full compliance with New York State Education Law - Part 1 - §224-A Students Unable Because of Religious Beliefs to Register or Attend Classes on Certain Days, we have undertaken the following steps: 

• The Division of Student Affairs, in collaboration with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, will issue a listing of major religious holidays that will take place during the following academic year (which is below on this web page).  This will ensure that the faculty are aware of the major celebrations of the faiths practiced by our students.

• All student absences in order to practice their faith will be viewed as an ‘excused absence’, with no negative consequence. Students are still responsible for the content covered and activities conducted during those absences.

• Faculty are strongly urged to avoid scheduling examinations, papers, presentations or other assignments to be due on any of the major listed holidays.  When this is unavoidable, students will be given the opportunity for an equivalent make-up.

• When possible, lectures taking place on those days will be recorded and students will be able to access playbacks of the full lecture.

• We will request that faculty post notes for classes taking place on any of the major holidays on their individual course site so that all students can access the material.

• Students are expected to notify their faculty or program as early as possible in advance of any religious observance for which they are requesting an accommodation. They can discuss with their faculty member at that time how they will be able to catch up on the work covered. 

• If a student is not satisfied that they are being treated appropriately, they can reach out to their program chair or academic dean to have their grievance addressed. Students can also reach out to the Office of Student Affairs or the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

• Faculty who intend to observe a religious holiday should arrange at the beginning of the semester to reschedule missed classes or to make other provisions for their course-related activities.

• The text of the New York State Education Law will be posted on the official Student and Academic Policies page.

Our Commitment | NYS Education Law §224-A | Days of Religious Observance | Official Academic Calendars (Office of the Registrar)

New York State Education Law - Students Unable Because of Religious Beliefs to Register or Attend Classes on Certain Days (Laws of the State of New York, Chapter 16, Title 1, Article 5, Part 1, Section 224-a)

§224-a. Students unable because of religious beliefs to register or attend classes on certain days.

1.  No person shall be expelled from or be refused admission as a student to an institution of higher education for the reason that he or she is unable, because of his or her religious beliefs, to register or attend classes or to participate in any examination, study or work requirements on a particular day or days.

2.  Any student in an institution of higher education who is unable, because of his or her religious beliefs, to attend classes on a  particular day or days shall, because of such absence on the particular day or days, be excused from any examination or any study or work requirements.

3. It shall be the responsibility of the faculty and of the administrative officials of each institution of higher education to make  available to each student who is absent from school, because of his or her religious beliefs, an equivalent opportunity to register for classes or make up any examination, study or work requirements which he or she may have missed because of such absence on any particular day or days. No fees of any kind shall be charged by the institution for making available to the said student such equivalent opportunity.

4. If registration, classes, examinations, study or work requirements are held on Friday after four o'clock post meridian or on Saturday,  similar or makeup classes, examinations, study or work requirements or opportunity to register shall be made available on other days, where it is possible and practicable to do so. No special fees shall be charged to the student for these classes, examinations, study or work requirements or registration held on other days.

5. In effectuating the provisions of this section, it shall be the duty of the faculty and of the administrative officials of each institution of higher education to exercise the fullest measure of good faith. No adverse or prejudicial effects shall result to any student because of his or her availing himself or herself of the provisions of this section.

6. Any student, who is aggrieved by the alleged failure of any faculty or administrative officials to comply in good faith with the provisions of this section, shall be entitled to maintain an action or proceeding in the supreme court of the county in which such institution of higher education is located for the enforcement of his or her rights under this section.

6-a. It shall be the responsibility of the administrative officials of each institution of higher education to give written notice to students of their rights under this section, informing them that each  student who is absent from school, because of his or her religious beliefs, must be given an equivalent opportunity to register for classes or make up any examination, study or work requirements which he or she may have missed because of such absence on any particular day or days. No fees of any kind shall be charged by the institution for making available to such student such equivalent opportunity.

7. As used in this section, the term "institution of higher education" shall mean any institution of higher education, recognized and approved by the regents of the university of the state of New York, which provides a course of study leading to the granting of a post-secondary degree or diploma. Such term shall not include any institution which is operated, supervised or controlled by a church or by a religious or denominational organization whose educational programs are principally designed for the purpose of training ministers or other religious functionaries or for the purpose of propagating religious doctrines. As used in this section, the term "religious belief" shall mean beliefs associated with any corporation organized and operated exclusively for religious purposes, which is not disqualified for tax exemption under section 501 of the United States Code. 

Our Commitment | NYS Education Law §224-A | Days of Religious Observance | Official Academic Calendars (Office of the Registrar)

Religious Observances

Please note that this calendar includes only religious holidays that coincide with official academic terms and occur on a weekday. These dates may vary from year to year. This listing is not exhaustive of all religions and their related observable holidays. While daily or weekly religious observances are not specifically listed, we are committed to accommodating students' needs in accordance with New York State Education Law 224-A.

For information on federal holidays or scheduled school breaks, please review our academic calendar page from the Office of the Registrar.

Academic Year 2025 - 2026

* - The official dates of these observances may change

 

Last updated: September 4, 2025