Accommodating Religious Observances
This message was shared with the University community on March 25, 2026.
Dear Students and Colleagues,
Drexel University is dedicated to an environment that respects and supports the free practice of the many faith traditions of our University community. This is a reminder that Drexel is committed to making every reasonable effort to accommodate the religious observances of our students, faculty and professional staff. The full academic policy on religious observances and the religious observances calendar can be viewed on the Provost's Office website. To minimize the need for accommodations, faculty are encouraged, to the extent they are able, to avoid scheduling exams on religious holidays.
A religious accommodation is a workplace or academic adjustment that allows students, faculty, and professional staff to practice their religious beliefs. Accommodations may include academic, campus housing and employment accommodations, for example:
- Flexibility in work schedules
- Allowance of prayer breaks
- Excusing an absence
- Changing an assignment’s due date
- Rescheduling a presentation or meeting
- Providing a make-up exam or assignment to substitute for missed work
We ask everyone to make a good faith effort to find reasonable solutions to enable all members of our University community to engage in their religious observances without significantly disrupting University operations. This includes providing a reasonable amount of time to make up missed work without penalty.
The Drexel community is encouraged to request religious accommodations as early as possible. Students can visit the Spiritual and Religious Life web page, and employees can visit the HR website, for information and resources about reasonable accommodations at any stage in the process.
For students looking for spiritual and religious community or support, the Office of Spiritual and Religious Life maintains several ministry locations and prayer spaces, and chaplains are available to meet in-person and virtually as needed. Thank you for your help in making Drexel a welcoming and inclusive place to study and work.
Sincerely,
Paul E. Jensen, PhD
Executive Vice President
Nina Henderson Provost
Subir Sahu, PhD
Senior Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Success
Leslie Ashburn-Nardo, PhD
Vice Provost for Faculty Excellence & Academic Culture