Avoiding Conflicts with Religious Holidays

University at Buffalo Course Policies regarding class attendance include provisions for students who must miss class due to religious observance. UB's Attendance on Religious Holy Days policy states that students who belong to religious faiths that require observance during work or school days will be excused from class without penalty if they have provided notification to the instructor in advance.

Additionally, UB's Religious Accommodation and Expression Policy provides that students and employees have the right to reasonable religious accommodations. These include time away from class or work for religious observance without penalty and the ability to make up missed work, including examinations.

While UB policy does not prohibit scheduling exams, projects, or other major deadlines on religious holidays, avoiding this promotes inclusion and also reduces the need to administer make-up exams and assignments.

The following is a list of holidays and observances that commonly require accommodations. This list is not intended to be exhaustive. Please note that observance dates may vary, and that students and colleagues are the most reliable source of information about their own observances and traditions. 

Jan 7:   Orthodox Christmas

Feb 17:   Lunar New Year  

Feb 18:   Ash Wednesday

Feb 17 – March 18:   Ramadan

Mar 4:   Holi

Mar 19-20:   Eid al-Fitr

Mar 20:  Nowruz

Apr 1 - 9:  Passover/Pesach

Apr 3:  Good Friday

Apr 5:  Easter

Apr 10:  Orthodox Holy Friday

Apr 12:  Orthodox Easter

May 26-27:  Eid al-Adha

Sept 11-13:  Rosh Hashanah

Sep 20-21:  Yom Kippur

Nov 8:  Diwali

Nov 11:  Birth of Bahá'u'lláh

Dec 4 – Dec 12:  Hanukkah

Dec 25:  Christmas

Dec 26 - Jan 1:  Kwanzaa

Jan 7:   Orthodox Christmas

Feb 6:   Lunar New Year 

Feb 10:   Ash Wednesday

Feb 8 – March 9:   Ramadan

Mar 23:   Holi

Mar 9-10:   Eid al-Fitr

Mar 20 - 21:  Nowruz

Apr 21 - 29:  Passover/Pesach

Mar 26:  Good Friday

Mar 28:  Easter

Apr 30:  Orthodox Holy Friday

May 2:  Orthodox Easter

May 16-17:  Eid al-Adha

Oct 1 - 3:  Rosh Hashanah

Oct 10 - 11:  Yom Kippur

Oct 29:  Diwali

Oct 30 - 31:  Birth of Bahá'u'lláh

Dec 24 – Jan 1:  Hanukkah

Dec 25:  Christmas

Dec 26 - Jan 1:  Kwanzaa

UB is a diverse community, and one whose members celebrate a variety of traditions and observances. Developing a calendar of common holidays is therefore not an easy task, and we recognize we might have left someone out or gotten something wrong. If we did, please contact us to let us know!