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 10: Lunar New Year  

Feb 14: Ash Wednesday

Mar 11 - Apr 9: Ramadan

Mar 24 - 25: Holi

Mar 29: Good Friday

Mar 31: Easter

Apr 9 - 11: Eid al-Fitr

Apr 22 - 30: Passover/Pesach

May 3: Orthodox Good Friday

May 5: Orthodox Easter

Jun 17: Eid al-Adha

Oct 3 - 4: Rosh Hashanah

Oct 12: Yom Kippur

Oct 31 - Nov 4: Diwali

Nov 2: Birth of Bahá'u'lláh

Dec 25: Christmas

Dec 26 - Jan 1: Kwanzaa

Dec 26- Jan 2: Hanukkah

Notes:

• Some religious holidays start the prior evening or will include observance on the eve of the holiday.
• Specific observance dates may vary. Students and colleagues are the best source of information about their own religious traditions. 

Jan 7:  Orthodox Christmas

Jan 29:  Lunar New Year  

Mar 5:  Ash Wednesday

Mar 1 – March 30:  Ramadan

Mar 13/14:  Holi

Mar 30 - Apr 1:  Eid al-Fitr

Apr 18:  Orthodox Good Friday

Apr 18:  Good Friday

Apr 12 - 20:  Passover/Pesach

Apr 20:  Orthodox Easter

Apr 20:  Easter

Jun 6/7:  Eid al-Adha

Sept 22 - 24:  Rosh Hashanah

Oct 1/2:  Yom Kippur

Oct 17 - Oct  22:  Diwali

Nov 12:  Birth of Bahá'u'lláh

Dec 14 – Dec 22:  Hanukkah

Dec 25:  Christmas

Dec 26 - Jan 1:  Kwanzaa

Notes: 

• Some religious holidays start the prior evening or will include observance on the eve of the holiday.
• Specific observance dates may vary. Students and colleagues are the best source of information about their own religious traditions. 

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!