Religious Observances
Religious Observance Policy
The University is a secular institution that values a diversity of religious expression. The University is also an active community with a wide range of personal commitments and academic and extracurricular activities.
Planning for academic and extracurricular activities should be done with sensitivity to the diverse religious commitments of the community and an awareness of religious holidays. Scheduling large-scale, one-time academic or extra-curricular events on a religious holiday should be avoided whenever possible.
Any student may be excused from class or other assignments because of religious observance. A student who will miss an academic obligation because of religious observance is responsible for contacting his or her professor within the first two weeks of the semester. The student is responsible for completing missed work in a timely manner.
Faculty are expected to be mindful of potential conflicts with religious observances and should make reasonable accommodations when students' religious practices conflict with their academic responsibilities.
The religious observance calendar is meant to serve as a scheduling guide. It lists significant holidays from the five largest global faith traditions. However, it is not comprehensive and students may choose to observe a holiday from any tradition not included on the calendar. For information about additional holidays from these and other faith traditions, see interfaith-calendar.org.
The holidays listed are those which occur when the University is open.
Religious Observance Calendar 2024-27
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2024-25 |
2025-26 |
2026-27 |
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BUDDHIST |
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Buddha's Enlightenment Day |
Sunday, December 8, 2024 |
Monday, December 8, 2025 |
Tuesday, December 8, 2026 |
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Vesak Day |
Monday, May 12, 2025 |
Sunday, May 31, 2026 |
Thursday, May 20, 2027 |
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CHRISTIAN CATHOLIC/PROTESTANT |
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Ash Wednesday |
Wednesday, March 5, 2025 |
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 |
Wednesday, February 10, 2027 |
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Good Friday |
Friday, April 18, 2025 |
Friday, April 3, 2026 |
Friday, March 26, 2027 |
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Easter |
Sunday, April 20, 2025 |
Sunday, April 5, 2026 |
Sunday, March 28, 2027 |
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CHRISTIAN - EASTERN ORTHODOX |
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Christmas (Julian Calendar) |
Tuesday, January 7, 2025 |
Wednesday, January 7, 2026 |
Thursday, January 7, 2027 |
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Good Friday |
Friday, April 18, 2025 |
Friday, April 10, 2026 |
Friday, April 30, 2027 |
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Easter |
Sunday, April 20, 2025 |
Sunday, April 12, 2026 |
Sunday, May 2, 2027 |
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HINDU |
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Diwali |
Friday, November 1, 2024 |
Monday, October 20, 2025 |
Sunday, November 8, 2026 |
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Holi |
Friday, March 14, 2025 |
Wednesday, March 4, 2026 |
Monday, March 22, 2027 |
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JEWISH Jewish holidays begin at sundown the previous day. |
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Rosh Hashanah, first two days |
Thursday, October 3, 2024- Friday, October 4, 2024 |
Tuesday, September 23-Wednesday, September 24, 2025 |
Friday, September 11- Saturday September 12, 2026 |
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Yom Kippur |
Saturday, October 12, 2024 |
Thursday, October 2, 2025 |
Sunday, September 20, 2026 |
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Sukkot |
Thursday, October 17, 2024 |
Tuesday, October 7, 2025 |
Friday, September 25, 2026 |
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Passover |
Sunday, April 13, 2025-Monday, April 14, 2025 |
Thursday, April 2, 2026 |
Wednesday, April 21, 2027 |
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MUSLIM Muslim Holidays begin at sundown the previous day. Dates may vary depending on interpretations of the lunar calendar. |
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Eid al-Fitr |
Monday, March 31, 2025 |
Friday, March 20, 2026 |
Monday, May 17, 2027 |
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Eid al-Adha |
Monday, June 17, 2024 |
Saturday, June 7, 2025 |
Tuesday, June 15, 2027 |
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Ashura |
Wednesday, July 17, 2024 |
Sunday, July 6, 2025 |
Sunday, February 7, 2027 |
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Ramadan |
Saturday, March 1, 2025 |
Wednesday, February18, 2026 |
Wednesday, March 10, 2027 |
Religious Observance Descriptions
Buddhist
Buddha's Enlightenment Day: Also called Rohatsu or Bodhi Day. The day many Buddhist traditions celebrate the enlightenment of the Buddha.
Vesak Day: There are a variety of cultural traditions celebrating Buddha's Birthday. Many Buddhist cultures celebrate the birth, Awakening, and death of the Buddha on Vesak Day.
Christian
Ash Wednesday: This day marks the beginning of Lent, a six week period of prayer and fasting in anticipation of Easter.
Good Friday: The day Jesus was crucified.
Easter Sunday: The celebration of Jesus being raised from the dead.
Hindu
Diwali: Festival of Lights. This holiday is typically celebrated by families sharing various traditional rituals in their homes.
Holi: Festival of Spring or Festival of Colors. This day is typically celebrated by families in India, Nepal, and other parts of Asia by partaking in various regional traditions.
Jewish
Rosh Hashanah: Jewish New Year. It is the beginning of a ten-day period of introspection and reflection.
Yom Kippur: Day of Atonement. It is the holiest day of the Jewish calendar marked with fasting, worship, and repentance.
Sukkot: Festival of Booths. Commemorates the wandering in the desert of the Israelites as well as the fall harvest. While the festival of Sukkot lasts for 8 days, the first day is considered a day of rest.
Passover: Festival of Passover. It commemorates the Exodus of Jews from slavery in Egypt. While the Passover lasts for 8 days, the first night is the most significant and the first day is considered a day of rest.
Muslim
Eid al-Fitr: Marks the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting, and the holiest month in Islamic tradition. It literally means "breaking the fast."
Eid al-Adha: Festival of Sacrifice. Commemorates the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael. God provided a sheep to sacrifice in Ishmael's place
Ashura: Shi'a Muslims commemorate the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, Muhammad's grandson. According to Sunni Muslims, Muhammad fasted and asked others to do so on this day as well.
Ramadan: The ninth month of the Islamic lunar year and is the time in which Muslims observe fast from sunrise to sunset.