The Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Office of the Chaplain would like for students, faculty, and staff to be aware of a broad range of religious observances.

Faculty should consider the manner in which holy days might impact student class attendance or their ability to complete assignments on respective due dates. Administrative and Academic Units, as well as Student Organizations, should consider holy days when scheduling department-wide or university-wide events and programming.

Students interested in holy day accommodations for class and lab assignments, attendance, or athletic practice/competition should contact faculty or coaches well in advance with such requests. Students can utilize the Religious Holy Day Accommodation Email Template to reach out to faculty, staff, or coaches, etc.

Below is a list of holy days observed by many students, staff, and faculty members in our community. You can find detailed descriptions of the Holy Days here. This list, though exhaustive in its inclusion of traditions represented on our campus, is not complete. Consequently, please direct suggestions for additions to the list of religious days of observance to the Chaplain’s Office.


2024-25 Date(s)Holiday Faith
June 16-17*Eid al-Adha**Islamic
July 16-17*Ashura**Islamic
August 15Feast of AssumptionRoman Catholic
September 8Feast of the Nativity**Orthodox Christian
October 2-4*Rosh Hashanah **Judaism
October 11-12*Yom Kippur**Judaism
October 16-23*SukkotJudaism
October 3-12NavaratriHinduism
October 28-November 27Kathin (Various dates from October 28 to November 27)Theravada Buddhist
October 29-November 3DiwaliHinduism/Sikhism/Jainism
December 8Bodhi DayBuddhism
December 26-January 2*HanukkahJudaism
December 21 Winter SolsticeTraditions across the world
December 24Christmas EveChristian
December 25Christmas DayChristian
December 26-January 1KwanzaaInterfaith
January 29Lunar New YearBuddhism
February 28-March 30*RamadanIslamic
March 5Ash WednesdayChristian
March 5-April 17LentChristian
March 14HoliHinduism/Sikhism/Buddhism/Jainism
March 30-31Eid-al-Fitr**Islamic
April 12-20*Passover (Pesach)**Judaism
April 13Palm SundayChristian
April 18Good/Holy Friday**Christian
April 20Easter**Christian
April 20Pascha**Orthodox Christian
April 23-24*Yom HaShoahJudaism
May 12Vesak (Buddha Day)Buddhism
June 1-3*ShavuotJudaism
June 20Summer SolsticeTraditions across the world

*   Jewish and Islamic observances begin at sundown the evening before the date listed
** Holy days on which absence from work or school is common