Good Afternoon,

Please see the message from Laurie Schnarr below.

Best,

Ali

Message from Laurie Schnarr, Vice-Provost (Students)

Good afternoon, colleagues.

Please forward this email to members of your team who provide advisement and support to students in your faculty/college/school.

As you may be aware, the Ramadan season is upon us. It began on March 1, ends on March 29, and culminates in the 3-day celebration of Eid ul-Fitr, which begins on the evening of March 29^th. 

The UM Spiritual Care & Multi-Faith Centre is offering the following information to assist faculty and educators when responding to students who are requesting deferred mid-term exams or quizzes, and extensions on their assignments (such as essays, projects) due to their religious observance:

During Ramadan, students will be fasting during the day (no food or drink) from dawn to dusk. ^[1]   For exams and quizzes scheduled in the evenings at times that overlap with the breaking of the fast at dusk (see footnote), please permit students to defer those exams/quizzes or, if they choose to write the exam/quiz, to be allowed to eat and drink accordingly. Students’ needs will vary from student to student.

In addition, sleep is greatly impacted as religiously observant individuals will be engaging in nightly prayers (which could finish as late as 10:30pm-11pm). They then need to wake up to start the fast before dawn (see footnote below).  In combination with daily fasting, the shortened nights often contribute to feelings of fatigue and difficulty concentrating, which may negatively impact students’ ability to write early morning exams, be attentive at or attend early morning classes (before 10am).  Please give care and consideration to the needs of these students.

Finally, Eid ul-Fitr is the most important holiday in the Muslim calendar, signifying the end of Ramadan. It should be considered in the same way as Christmas Day or Good Friday. Muslim students should not be expected to write exams on this date. Please note that there is some variation in the Muslim community about which date is Eid ul-Fitr, with some celebrating on March 29^th, others on March 30^th, and others on March 31^st.

If you receive deferred exam/quiz requests or assignment extensions on these grounds, please consider them as valid circumstances. If you have questions about a deferral or extension request, please feel free to contact Heather Morris, Edgar French, or Natasha Ali. 

^[1] Dawn (the beginning of the fast) starts anywhere from 6:20 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. depending on the day. Dusk (the ending of the fast) starts anywhere from 6:11 p.m. to 7:57 p.m. With the time change and longer days, dusk extends later and later as the month progresses.

Thank you.

…Laurie

Laurie M. Schnarr, MA (she/her)

Vice-Provost (Students)

Office of the Provost and Vice-President (Academic)

University of Manitoba

208 Administration Building

Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2

Confidential Assistant - Marci Davies Marci.Davies@umanitoba.ca: 

Student Affairs – Leaders in cultivating exceptional student experiences

I acknowledge, with humility and gratitude, that the University of Manitoba campuses are located on original lands of the Anishinaabeg, Ininew, Anisininew, Dakota and Dene peoples, and on the National Homeland of the Red River Métis. As a white settler of English and German descent I am committed to walking alongside Indigenous students, colleagues, friends, and neighbours and doing the work that is necessary to honour the truth, and contribute through meaningful action to lasting positive change.

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