Student Absences for University-Sanctioned Events, Religious and Faith-Based Observances

September 8, 2025

Dear Colleagues:

Each fall and spring the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President and the Division of Student Affairs issue a reminder to our academic community regarding policies for accommodating student absences for University-sanctioned events and religious and faith-based observances. Please read the important information below which outlines these policies and provides resource links to assist you. Also, if you are not familiar with the following policies, please review them at your convenience:

Religious, Faith, Belief, and Spiritual Observances

This policy is designed to accommodate students without penalty when religious holidays or faith-based observances may conflict with scheduled academic events such as classes, labs, and examinations. The policy is required to help ensure we maintain an environment that aligns with our institutional values and is supportive of those who observe religious, faith, belief, or spiritual practices.

CSU has created a calendar for Faith, Belief and Religious Observances which shares a wide diversity of holidays. The calendar serves as a resource to improve faith and belief-based literacy for our community about potential holidays celebrated by our students, faculty, and staff. Affirming religious identity and accommodating participation in faith-based observances allows us to recognize and celebrate our cultural differences.

Some students may not feel comfortable contacting faculty directly to request accommodations for faith-based observances. Student Affairs has an online Request for Class Absences Related to Faith, Belief, and/or Religious Observance for students. Please encourage your students to use this form for anticipated class absences due to a religious holiday or observance. Student Affairs will then verify the holiday and notify faculty of whether or not a student’s request requires accommodations.

While we are addressing the specific issue of religious holidays and faith-based observances as part of this communication, the inclusive community we aspire to create at CSU is one of respect for each person’s religious views and faith at all times including respect for individuals who do not celebrate religious holidays or faith-based observances.

University-Sanctioned Events

We ask you to support students who pursue professional and personal development through University-sanctioned events, and to provide them with a fair opportunity to demonstrate their academic proficiency and make up missed work. Accommodations made for these absences should be in addition to any permitted absences that are offered to all students in your regular class absence policy.

The relevant passage from the CSU Academic Faculty and Administrative Professional Manual I.14.4 Class Attendance Regulations follows:
Instructors and departments are responsible for establishing attendance policies for classes and examinations. These policies must accommodate student participation in University-sanctioned extracurricular/co-curricular activities. Students must inform their instructors prior to the anticipated absence and take the initiative to make up missed work in a timely fashion. Instructors must make reasonable efforts to enable students to make up work which must be accomplished under the instructor’s supervision (e.g., examinations, laboratories). In the event of a conflict in regard to this policy, individuals may appeal using established University procedures.

For the purposes of this regulation, University-sanctioned activities include competitions, events and professional meetings in which students are officially representing the institution. Appropriate sanctioned activities include:

a. Intercollegiate athletics;
b. Collegiate club sports and competitions;
c. Conferences and workshops recognized by the University not related to academics;
d. Commitments on behalf of the University (ASCSU, band, etc.); and
e. Professional activities recognized by the University related to academics.

The VPSA website lists individuals authorized to approve student absences as sanctioned events.

Additionally, the Office of Student Case Management has a process to provide faculty notifications for student absences in special circumstances such as medical or mental health hospitalizations, jury duty, military duty, and other life events. Please see the addendum below for more information.

Thank you for your continued support of our students, and for accommodating student absences based on our institutional policies and values.

Sincerely,

Sue James, Ph.D.
Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs

Michael Galchinsky, Ph.D.
Vice Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Affairs

Craig Chesson, Ph.D.
Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs
Dean of Students

ADDENDUM

Office of Student Case Management
Student Absences in Special Circumstances

The Office of Student Case Management provides verification to faculty about student absences in special circumstances such as:

  1. Medical or Mental Health Hospitalization greater than 3 days with documentation directly from a verified source.
  2. Jury Duty/Court Appointments with verifiable documentation.
  3. Military Duty with verified orders.
  4. Title IX Protections (e.g., pregnancy or related conditions) or investigation meetings for impacted parties, responding parties, and witnesses that coincide with class attendance (specific dates/times); https://titleix.colostate.edu/.
  5. Bereavement within the scope of the policy https://catalog.colostate.edu/general- catalog/academic-standards/academic-policies/.
  6. High Impact Campus Situations – i.e., natural disasters (students with addresses in natural disaster areas confirmed with the Office of the Registrar), campus incidents (e.g., displacement of students due to flooding, fire, or similar circumstances), and other high impact situations as determined by university emergency responses.

The Student Case Management notification process for student absences in cases of the special circumstances detailed above does not apply to CSU policies regarding University-sanctioned events where students are officially representing the institution or attending approved professional meetings (e.g., intercollegiate athletics, conferences and workshops, student government, etc.) or for absences related to religious holidays and faith-based observances.

Additional Resources:

Links for faculty and staff:

Quick guide to class absences (please share with your students): https://studentaffairs.colostate.edu/resources/class-absence-information/