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, other assignments, and student organization activities because of religious observance. A student who will miss an academic obligation because of religious observance is responsible for contacting their professor within the first two weeks of the semester. A student missing an extracurricular or student organization obligation is responsible for contacting the organizer as soon as a conflict is identified. The student is responsible for completing missed work in a timely manner. 

Faculty and student organizations are expected to be mindful of potential conflicts with religious observances and should make reasonable accommodations when students’ religious practices conflict with their academic or extracurricular 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 2026-29

	2026-27	2027-28	2028-29
BUDDHIST
Buddha's Enlightenment Day	Tuesday, December 8, 2026	Wednesday, December 8, 2027	Friday, December 8, 2028
Vesak Day	Thursday, May 20, 2027	Monday, May 8, 2028	Sunday, May 27, 2029
CHRISTIAN CATHOLIC/PROTESTANT
Ash Wednesday	Wednesday, February 10, 2027	Wednesday, March 1, 2028	Wednesday, February 14, 2029
Good Friday	Friday, March 26, 2027	Friday, April 14, 2028	Friday, March 30, 2029
Easter	Sunday, March 28, 2027	Sunday, April 16, 2028	Sunday, April 1, 2029
CHRISTIAN - EASTERN ORTHODOX
Christmas (Julian Calendar)	Thursday, January 7, 2027	Friday, January 7, 2028	Sunday, January 7, 2029
Good Friday	Friday, April 30, 2027	Friday, April 14, 2028	Friday, April 6, 2029
Easter	Sunday, May 2, 2027	Sunday, April 16, 2028	Sunday, April 8, 2029
HINDU
Diwali	Sunday, November 8, 2026	Thursday, October 28, 2027	Tuesday, October 17, 2028
Holi	Monday, March 22, 2027	Saturday, March 11, 2028	Thursday, March 1, 2029
JEWISH Jewish holidays begin at sundown the previous day.
Rosh Hashanah	Saturday September 12, 2026	Saturday, October 2, 2027	Thursday, September 21, 2028
Yom Kippur	Monday, September 21, 2026	Monday, October 11, 2027	Saturday, September 30, 2028
Sukkot	Saturday, September 26, 2026	Saturday, October 16, 2027	Thursday, October 5, 2028
Passover	Thursday, April 22, 2027	Tuesday, April 11, 2028	Saturday, March 31, 2029
MUSLIM Muslim Holidays begin at sundown the previous day. Dates may vary depending on interpretations of the lunar calendar.
Eid al-Fitr	Wednesday, March 10, 2027	Friday, February 25, 2028	Thursday, February 15, 2029 (tentative)
Eid al-Adha	Monday, May 17, 2027	Friday, May 5, 2028	Tuesday, April 24, 2029 (tentative)
Ashura	Tuesday, June 15, 2027	Saturday, June 3, 2028	Thursday, May 24, 2029 (tentative)
Ramadan	Sunday, February 7, 2027	Friday, January 28, 2028	Tuesday, January 16, 2029 (tentative)

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.