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Rosh Hashanah and the start of autumn quarter 2022

Vice Provost for Student Affairs Susie Brubaker-Cole and Dean for Religious and Spiritual Life Tiffany Steinwert share academic guidance for observant students and postdocs.

Dear students and postdocs,

Stanford University has a long tradition of striving to support faculty, students and staff in their observance of significant religious holy days.  During Autumn Quarter, 2022, the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah falls on the first day of the quarter. We understand the difficulties created by beginning classes on this day and support faculty, staff and students in their observance.

In recent years, there have been conflicts between the beginning of the academic year and Jewish religious observances on campus. We realize the ongoing nature of this issue may make some who observe the Jewish holidays feel invisible and disconnected from the University community. While this isn’t the intention, the impact is understood.

The University will work with faculty and instructors to help support students who wish to observe. Instructors will be encouraged not to penalize students for absences on the first day, nor remove students from the course roster. Instructors will also be encouraged to work with students who will be missing class prior to the religious observance to provide flexibility, including access to the syllabus, preparation for the next class meeting, class notes and recordings when available, and instructions for any assignments that may come from the first class.

If you are observing Rosh Hashanah on September 26th or 27th, please email your instructors as far in advance of the holiday as possible to work with them on appropriate preparations and accommodations. The University is working closely with Hillel at Stanford to provide services for Rosh Hashanah for students, staff, and faculty at Frost Amphitheater.  Information regarding services is available on the Hillel website and information regarding accommodations for religious observances is available on the Office for Religious & Spiritual Life website. For further information, please contact Associate Dean for Religious & Spiritual Life, Rabbi Laurie Hahn Tapper.

Some classes may be suspended on September 26th or 27th as instructors may observe the holiday as well. Instructors who plan to observe will post the information in CANVAS so that students can be made aware.

We value the rich religious diversity of our shared community and are working together to respect and support all on these sacred occasions.

Sincerely,

Susie Brubaker-Cole
Vice Provost for Student Affairs

Tiffany Steinwert
Dean for Religious and Spiritual Life