Accommodations and provisions for reservists at Reichman University for the 2024-2025 academic year
Dear students,
As we begin the 2024-2025 academic year, we would like to present you with the updated list of provisions and accommodations for reservists studying at Reichman University. These protocols are in full accordance with the directives published by the Council for Higher Education (CHE) for all institutions. In some areas, the CHE restricts the ability of institutions of higher education to grant certain accommodations. In other areas, the university administration, in consultation with the Student Union, has expanded the accommodations available for reservists and other eligible individuals.
These protocols pertain to reserve service and other applicable eligibilities for the 2024-2025 academic year. All accommodations granted to reservists in the 2023-2024 academic year, which were intended to carry over into the 2024-2025 academic year as per the previous year’s protocols, will remain in effect and are not subject to cancellation.
This letter details the academic accommodations to be provided to students who will be absent during the 2024-2025 academic year due to reserve service, career service in a designated “forward unit,” or injuries sustained during service the Swords of Iron War(*).
*In this document, the term “reserve service” encompasses both reserve duty and career service in designated “forward units,” as well as absences due to injuries sustained in the Swords of Iron War that required hospitalization.
In addition, certain accommodations will be provided to the following groups: Immediate family members of the wounded, the fallen, and the hostages; evacuated students from the north and south; students residing on the front line in the north in communities that have not been evacuated; students serving as career soldiers or in the defense establishment (beyond those serving in designated forward units, as mentioned above); “Atuda” students called up for temporary regular service; members of the rescue and medical forces; and students who are partners of career solders or defense establishment employees and are parents of young children.
Students who were severely impacted by the war and do not fall under any of the above categories may submit an application for accommodations through their track coordinator. These requests will be reviewed by the Dean of Student Affairs.
Academic accommodations for reservists will be provided based on the length of service during a specific semester or throughout the entire 2024-2025 academic year, according to three defined groups. In line with the CHE directives, accommodations are allocated separately for each semester, based on the length of service during that semester.
For eligibility in the first semester, reserve duty will be counted from November 3, 2024, until March 22, 2025 (the last day before the start of the second semester).
For eligibility in the second semester, reserve duty will be counted from March 23, 2025, until the last day before the start of the upcoming academic year.
Groups eligible for accommodations:
Group 1: Students who served up to 20 cumulative days of reserve duty during a semester in the 2024-2025 academic year (applicable for that semester).
Group 2: Students who fall into one or more of the following categories and students who are parents of children up to the age of 13 whose partner falls into one of these categories:
2a. Students who served 21 or more cumulative days of reserve duty during any semester in the 2024-2025 academic year (applicable for that semester).
2b. Students who served 35 or more cumulative days of reserve duty throughout the entire 2024-2025 academic year (applicable for the entire academic year).
2c. Students who served 60 or more days of reserve duty during the 3 months preceding the start of the first semester of the 2024-2025 academic year (August, September, October 2024).
Group 3: Students who served 35 or more cumulative days of reserve duty during any semester in the 2024-2025 academic year (applicable for that semester) and students who are parents of children up to the age of 13 whose partner meets this service requirement.
General guidelines and accommodations for all reservists
1.The accommodations detailed in this document supplement the standard rights provided to reservists at Reichman University.
2.All classes taught during the 2024-2025 academic year will be recorded and made accessible to students serving in the reserves.
3.Progress in studies without enforcement of prerequisites: Students who were registered for a prerequisite course but were unable to take the exam due to reserve duty will be allowed to continue their studies in subsequent semesters without enforcement of the prerequisite requirement.
4.Requests for accommodations, accompanied by relevant documentation, should be submitted through the track coordinators at the student administration offices or via the student’s personal portal on the university website.
Accommodations by group
5. Accommodations for Group 1:
5.1 All existing accommodations provided under the university’s standard reservist regulations and student rights policies.
5.2 Extensions for the submission of assignments due within the week preceding a special exam date for reservists.
6. Accommodations for Group 2 (in addition to the accommodations for Group 1 and those stipulated in the general regulations):
Reduced study load:
6.1 Exemption from six academic credits in an undergraduate program or four academic credits in a graduate program, applicable to non-mandatory courses (electives, general courses, and other courses approved by the university). This exemption is valid for the entirety of the degree. Please note that, in accordance with the decision of the CHE, credit exemptions due to reserve duty are capped at a maximum of ten credits for an undergraduate degree and four credits for a graduate degree, cumulatively for the entire degree. Therefore, students who received full credit exemptions due to reserve duty during the 2023-2024 academic year will not be eligible for additional exemptions beyond these limits in the 2024-2025 academic year.
6.2 Exemption from attendance for an additional week immediately following the period of reserve duty.
6.3 Reduction of the number of required assignments in a given course, based on the proportion of reserve service weeks within the semester’s teaching weeks and in accordance with the nature of the course. In courses with weekly assignments, students will be exempted from submitting assignments during their reserve service and the week following their return. For other courses, it will be the lecturer’s responsibility to determine an appropriate reduction.
6.4 Labs: The course staff will arrange accommodations for students to either make up the labs required to fulfill the course duties or alternatively, to reduce the number of required labs. The solution will take into account the length of reserve service and will be decided upon by the lecturer responsible for the course.
6.5 Students will be granted flexibility in modifying their semester schedule beyond the official change deadline, and may withdraw from courses late without incurring any fees.
Accommodations for exams and grade adjustment:
6.6 Conversion to a passing grade: Students may convert a numerical grade to a verbal “pass” grade in two undergraduate courses or one graduate course during the 2024-2025 academic year, in a course of their choice, provided they have met the course’s requirements for passing. For this purpose, a final grade of 55 will be considered a passing grade. This option is not available for courses where a numerical grade is required for professional licensing, compulsory courses, or core courses in a graduate degree program.
According to a CHE directive, the maximum number of courses in which a numerical grade can be converted to a “pass” grade throughout a degree program is capped at five courses for an undergraduate degree and two courses for a graduate degree. For an undergraduate degree, the total credits for all courses graded as “pass,” including under accommodations made in previous semesters, must not exceed 10% of the total credits required for the degree. However, students who were allowed to convert numerical grades in a greater number of courses in accordance with the 2023-2024 regulations will be permitted to convert grades in the number of courses determined in those regulations.
6.7 Alternative assessment and modified exams: In accordance with student rights provisions, based on the nature of the course and exam format, and at the discretion of the lecturer and the institution, students in this group are entitled to alternative assessments for at least three exams.
Each school may designate specific subjects for which alternative assessments will not be available, provided that each eligible student has the option for alternative assessment in at least three exams.
Alternative assessments will not be provided to undergraduate students in the fields of medicine and STEM (mathematics, applied mathematics, statistics, computer science, physical sciences, biological sciences, agriculture, architecture, and engineering).
Lecturers may choose to offer an alternative assessment or a modified exam for a course. The exam will be modified in accordance with the nature of the course and the exam, as determined by the lecturer, and in alignment with the university’s guidelines. The courses in which an alternative assessment will be possible for students in this group will be designated by the university, in accordance with the scope and fields of study determined in the 2023-2024 regulations.
6.8 Students may submit a request for examination and exemption from a course due to previous academic studies at another Israeli institution, provided they obtained a passing grade in the relevant course.
Addressing the need for extended studies:
6.9 Extension of studies (if necessary) without additional fees: Students who have completed a cumulative reserve service of at least 42 days during the 2024-2025 academic year will be entitled to extend their study period by one semester without being charged any additional fees.
7. Accommodations for Group 3 (in addition to the accommodations for Groups 1 and 2 and those stipulated in the general regulations):
7.1 25% extra time on both exam dates in the semester in which the student served in the reserves. A student who is entitled to additional time for reservists as a reservist and also has additional time allowances for other reasons will receive both extensions, up to a maximum of 50% of the original exam time.
Reduced study load:
7.2 Exemption from attendance from the end of reserve duty through the remainder of the semester
7.3 Exemption from eight academic credits in an undergraduate program or four academic credits in a graduate program, applicable to non-mandatory courses (electives, general courses, and other courses approved by the university). This exemption is valid for the entirety of the degree. Please note that, in accordance with the decision of the CHE, credit exemptions due to reserve duty are capped at a maximum of ten credits for an undergraduate degree and four credits for a graduate degree, cumulatively for the entire degree. Therefore, students who received full credit exemptions due to reserve duty during the 2023-2024 academic year will not be eligible for additional exemptions beyond these limits in the 2024-2025 academic year.
Grade adjustment:
7.4 Conversion to a passing grade: Students may convert a numerical grade to a verbal “pass” grade in three undergraduate courses or two graduate courses during the 2024-2025 academic year, in a course of their choice, provided they have met the course’s requirements for passing. This option is not available for courses where a numerical grade is required for professional licensing, compulsory courses, or core courses in a graduate degree program.
According to a CHE directive, the maximum number of courses in which a numerical grade can be converted to a “pass” grade throughout a degree program is capped at five courses for an undergraduate degree and two courses for a graduate degree. For an undergraduate degree, the total credits for all courses graded as “pass,” including under accommodations made in previous semesters, must not exceed 10% of the total credits required for the degree. However, students who were allowed to convert numerical grades in a greater number of courses in accordance with the 2023-2024 regulations will be permitted to convert grades in the number of courses determined in those regulations.
7.5 The option to select the highest grade from the two exam dates attended by the student. Further details on implementing this accommodation will be provided at a later date.
Addressing the need for extended studies:
7.6 Extension of studies (if necessary) without additional fees: Students who have completed a cumulative reserve service of at least 84 days during the two semesters of the 2024-2025 academic year will be entitled to extend their study period by two semesters without being charged any additional fees. This provision will be updated in the university’s tuition billing mechanism to ensure that no extra charges are applied due to the study extension.
8. Accommodations for career soldiers, defense establishment employees, and those wounded during the Swords of Iron War.
Support for additional populations
8.1 Along with the support provided to students called up for reserve duty, Reichman University is attentive to the challenges, academic and other, faced by all students due to the war. Special attention is given to the wounded (beyond what is outlined in this document), as well as the families of the wounded, the fallen, and the hostages; evacuated students from the north and south; students residing on the front line in the north in communities that have not been evacuated; students serving as career soldiers or in the defense establishment (beyond those serving in designated forward units, as mentioned above); “Atuda” students called up for temporary regular service; members of the rescue and medical forces; and students who are partners of career solders or defense establishment employees and are parents of young children. All those mentioned above are encouraged to contact their track coordinators in the student administration offices along with the appropriate documentation to request accommodations similar to those offered to reservists. Each request will be considered seriously and with the sincere intention to provide as much individualized support as possible.
9. Accommodations for students in practical training programs, especially in the medical professions
9.1 Accommodations and make-up options for students in practical training in the medical professions will be determined at a later date by the Forum of Deans of Medical Faculties, in coordination with the administrations of the academic institutions.
9.2 Accommodations and make-up options for students in practical training in other disciplines will be determined at a later date by the institutions, in accordance with the requirements of each field.
Reichman University extends its profound appreciation to all students who served throughout the wartime period, at great risk and sacrifice.
We are proud of each and every one of you and wish you a good and quiet year, hopeful news, and peace.
Prof. Boaz Ganor, President
Prof. Amnon Lehavi, Provost
Dr. Ayelet Ben Ezer Gelbard, CEO & Vice President
Additional accommodations and provisions as of February 12, 2025:
Following the request of the Student Union and discussions with the Council for Higher Education, additional provisions have been approved to support reservist students from two specific groups:
A. Students enrolled in double degree undergraduate programs (law and business, law and government, law and psychology, business and psychology) (hereinafter referred to as “double degree undergraduate students”)
B. Students who have already utilized the maximum number of CHE credits for reserve soldiers in the 2023-2024 academic year and are also performing significant reserve service in the 2024-2025 academic year
1. Double degree undergraduate students:
As students in double degree undergraduate programs study 150% of the coursework required for a regular degree, these students will be eligible for a proportional credit exemption, up to 150% of the maximum credit exemption under their accumulated or future accumilation, in accordance with the original provisions. The exemption credits will be distributed between the two degree programs, ensuring that the credit exemption for each individual degree does not exceed 100% of the maximum exemption approved by the CHE for standard undergraduate programs. As with the regular provisions, the exemption applies only to non-mandatory courses (electives, general courses, and other courses approved by the university). This exemption can be utilized throughout the entire duration of the degree.
For clarification, these provisions do not apply to students enrolled in double major programs.
2. Undergraduate students who have utilized the maximum number of CHE credits for reserve soldiers in the 2023-2024 academic year and are also performing significant reserve service in the 2024-2025 academic year
Undergraduate students who have exhausted the maximum number of CHE credits due to extended reserve service in the 2023-2024 academic year and have served additional significant duty in the 2024-2025 academic year will be eligible for additional credits for 2024-2025 beyond the CHE maximum, as follows:
- Reserve service of at least 35 days (per semester) — entitlement to 2 credits
OR
- Reserve service of at least 50 days (over the entire academic year) — entitlement to 4 credits
Students belonging to this group (undergraduate students who have exhausted the maximum CHE credits for reserve soldiers in the 2023-2024 academic year and are also performing significant reserve service in the 2024-2025 academic year) who served in combat units may submit an individual request to the Dean of Student Affairs for up to 2 additional credits.
Double degree undergraduate students who are eligible for credits under both Section 1 (double degree undergraduate students) and Section 2 (significant reserve service in 2024-2025 after having utilized the maximum CHE credits for reservists) may choose one of these accomodations, but cannot receive additional credits under both sections.
3. Graduate degree students who have exhausted the maximum CHE credits for graduate student reservists in the 2023-2024 academic year and are also performing significant reserve service in the 2024-2025 academic year may submit an individual request to the Dean of Student Affairs for up to 2 additional credits.
Important notes
- The provisions outlined here are the maximum accommodations available. The decision to utilize these accommodations, to what extent, and in which of the approved courses rests with the student. It is advised to exercise discretion when applying these accommodations, as an excessive number of exemptions on a transcript may be viewed negatively by employers or graduate programs.
- The courses eligible for reserve service credits are determined by each individual school, at its discretion. These decisions are final and cannot be appealed.
- For students in the accounting program, the use of additional reserve service credits under these provisions is subject to the program requirements, which will be published by the Student Administration Office.