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Office of the Provost

Religious Observances

UConn recognizes and welcomes the variety of religious and cultural observances present in our community. We believe that meaningful inclusion plays a critical role in the well-being of all members of the UConn community. In accordance with this mission, we advise faculty and staff to take dates of religious holidays into consideration when planning events or setting academic deadlines.

A detailed calendar of religious holidays and culturally significant events can be found below. We also encourage you to learn more about individual observances at the Interfaith Calendar. These resources provided to assist faculty and staff in planning activities and deadlines. This list is non-exhaustive, and requests to accommodate sincerely held religious practices must be assessed on an individualized basis. The University’s Religious Accommodation Policy provides further information and guidance.

Guidance for Religious Accommodations in an Academic Settings

Consistent with state law, any student who is unable to attend classes on a particular day or days or at a particular time of day because of the tenets of a sincerely held religious practice or belief may be excused from any academic activities on such particular day or days or at such particular time of day.

Students requesting a religious accommodation should understand the following:

  • Requests must be made directly to the instructor with as much notice as possible.
  • Students are responsible for obtaining the materials and information provided during any class(es) missed.
  • Undergraduate students must work with Dean of Students to reschedule finals; graduate students (excluding law, medicine, and dental medicine) must work directly with their faculty member to reschedule finals.

Faculty and Course Instructors Responsibilities:

  • It is the responsibility of course instructors to make available to each student who is absent from academic activities because of a sincerely held religious practice or belief an equivalent opportunity to make up any examination, study or work requirements which has been missed because of such absence.
  • Course instructors should make every attempt to respect the privacy of students when making accommodations and should not ask the student for proof that their religious practices or beliefs are sincerely held. Course instructors can consult with their department head or dean for assistance.

Students with concerns are encouraged to discuss the matter with their course instructor or department head. Undergraduate students may also contact the Dean of Students Office for additional assistance, and graduate students may consult with The Graduate School (excluding law, medicine, and dental medicine students).

Any individual (students, faculty, and staff) with questions or concerns may also contact the Office of Institutional Equity at equity@uconn.edu or (860) 486-2943 or refer to equity.uconn.edu for further information.

Academic Year 22-23 Religious & Cultural Important Dates

Dates marked in bold are major holidays for which accommodations are most requested. This list is not exhaustive and requests for accommodations relating to any religious observances must be assessed on an individualized basis pursuant to the University’s Religious Accommodation Policy.

We also encourage you to learn more about individual observances at the Interfaith Calendar.

*Begins at sundown
^Dietary restrictions or meal adjustments

July 29, 2022 Beginning of Hijri Year (1444 AH)* Islamic
August 28, 2022 Hijiri* Islamic
September 11, 2022 Coptic New Year Coptic Orthodox Christian
September 16, 2022 Arbaeen*  Islamic
September 23, 2022 Mabon  Pagan and Wiccan
September 23 – 31, 2022 Paryushana Jain
September 25 – 27, 2022 Rosh Hashanah* Jewish
September 26 – October 24, 2022 Navaratri Hindu
October 4 – 5, 2022 Yom Kippur*^ Jewish
October 5, 2022 Vijayadashami Jewish
October 7, 2022 Mawlid* Islamic
October 9 – 16, 2022 Sukkot* Jewish
October 16 – 17, 2022 Shmini Atzeret* Jewish
October 17 – 18, 2022 Simchat Torah* Jewish
October 24 – 27, 2022 Diwali Hindu, Sikh and Jain
October 26 – 27, 2022 Birthday of Bab and Baha’u’llah Baha’i
October 31, 2022 Samhain* Pagan and Wiccan
November 1, 2022 All Saints Day or Dia de los Muertos Christian
November 8, 2022 Birthday of Guru Nanak Ji Sikh
November 24, 2022 Jain New Year Jain
November 30, 2022 Feast of St. Andrew Roman Catholic
December 8, 2022 Feast of the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholics
December 18 – 26, 2022 Hanukkah* Jewish
December 21, 2022 Yule Pagan and Wiccan
December 25, 2022 Christmas Christian
December 26, 2022 – January 1, 2023 Kwanza Interfaith/African-American
January 6, 2023 Feast of Epiphany Christian
January 7, 2023 Eastern Orthodox Christmas Eastern Orthodox Christian
January 15, 2023 Sankrati Hindu
January 22, 2023 Lunar New Year National
February 22, 2023 Ash Wednesday^ Christian
February 28, 2023 Eastern Orthodox Beginning of Lent^ Eastern Orthodox Christian
March 6 – 7, 2023 Purim* Jewish
March 8, 2023 Holi Hindu
March 22 – April 21, 2023 Ramadan*^ Islam
April 2, 2023 Palm Sunday Christian (Roman Catholic, Protestant and Eastern Orthodox Christianity)
April 5 – 13, 2023 Passover* ^ Jewish
April 6, 2023 Maundy Thursday  Christian (Roman Catholic and Protestant)
April 7, 2023 Good Friday^ Christian (Roman Catholic and Protestant)
April 9, 2023 Easter Sunday Christian
April 14, 2023 Vaisakhi Sikh
April 14, 2023 Good Friday^ Eastern Orthodox Christian
April 16, 2023 Easter Eastern Orthodox Christian
April 21 – 22, 2023 Eid al-Fitr^* Islamic
May 1, 2023 Beltane Pagan, Wiccan, Druid
May 21, 2023 Summer Solstice Pagan and Wiccan
May 26, 2023 Buddha Day^ Buddhist
May 25 – 27, 2023  Shavout* Jewish
June 8, 2023 Feast of Corpus Christi Christianity
June 11, 2023 Race Unity Day Baha’i
June 16, 2023 Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Sahib Sikh
June 25, 2023 Litha Pagan and Wiccan
June 26 – July 1, 2023 Hajj* Islamic
June 28 – June 29, 2023 Eid al-Adha* Islamic
July 9, 2023 Martyrdom of the Bab Baha’i
July 19, 2023 Beginning of Hijri Year (1444 AH)* Islamic
July 26 – July 27, 2023 Tisha B’av*^ Jewish
August 1, 2023 Lughnasadh Pagan and Wiccan

Additional Information:

UConn Religious Accommodation Policy: https://policy.uconn.edu/2018/08/01/religious-accommodation-policy/

FAQs Regarding Religious Accommodations: https://policy.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/243/2019/01/Religious-Accommodation-Policy-FAQ-1-17-19.pdf 

Office of Institutional Equity: https://equity.uconn.edu/

UConn Faith: https://faith.studentaffairs.uconn.edu/

UConn Cultural Centers: https://office.diversity.uconn.edu/cultural-centers/

Dean of Students – Rescheduling Final Exams (Undergraduates): https://dos.uconn.edu/reschedule-finals/

The Graduate School: https://grad.uconn.edu/gspa/

Glossary of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Terms: https://diversity.uconn.edu/glossary/

Interfaith Calendar Definitions: http://www.interfaith-calendar.org/calendardefinitions.htm