It is important to be aware of dates when common religious observances may conflict with academic or work obligations.
University at Buffalo 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
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:
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
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
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!