The following memo (August 17, 1999) from The Executive Vice Chancellor and the Chair of the Berkeley Division outlines campus policy for students who miss exams because of a religious holiday:

Accommodation of Religious Creed

In compliance with Education code, Section 92640 (a), it is the official policy of the University of California at Berkeley to permit any student to undergo a test or examination, without penalty, at a time when that activity would not violate the student's religious creed, unless administering the examination at an alternate time would impose an undue hardship which could not reasonably have been avoided. Requests to accommodate a student's religious creed by scheduling tests or examinations at alternative times shall be submitted directly to the faculty member responsible for administering the examination.

Reasonable common sense, judgment and the pursuit of mutual goodwill should result in the positive resolution of scheduling conflicts. The regular campus appeals process applies if a mutually satisfactory arrangement cannot be achieved.

This policy is distributed annually at the beginning of each Fall semester and is available online.

last updated on 3/15/07