Our communities will celebrate over 60
religious holidays during the yearContact Us
Office Hours:
During the school year:
Monday-Friday 9 AM to 9 PM
Summer: Monday-Friday 9 AM to 5 PM
Major Holy Days of Observance 2024-2025 Academic Year
The diverse community of 51画鋼 celebrates many different religious and cultural holidays. In dedication to the 51画鋼 mission of inclusive excellence, this calendar was developed by the Kay Spiritual Life Center as an informational toolto assist in planning academic, program, and event responsibilities. This list is not meant to be exhaustive of all holidays or observances, nor active religious communities on campus. Thefollowing dates may require accommodation and are observed by a meaningful proportion of the 51画鋼 community.
For Jewish and Islamic holidays, one should consider the observance beginning at sundown on the day before the holiday. Jewish holy days end one hour after sunset of the concluding day. Islamic holy days may vary depending on the sighting of the moon while Hindu holidays are determined by a combination of luni-solar calendar, regions, and sects.
Many religious traditions also observe specific times of fasting. Given the impact that fasting may have on a students ability to demonstrate their full academic potential, students may request alternative scheduling for exams and assignment during these periods. Such arrangements should be sought at the earliest opportunity in conversation with the professor, and we anticipate that a meaningful arrangement can be made.
Accommodations for Religious Observances
For some of the traditions represented on campus, the cessation of regular activities and/or work is a component of the holiday; this would impact a students participation in class and completion of assignments on those dates. It should be noted that preference to observe a religious or cultural holiday at a specific place or time, if not a component of the observance, does not qualify for an accommodation.
The student is responsible for notifying their professor of conflicts with course materials and a religious or cultural observance in a timely manner. The expectation is that an arrangement can be made between the professor and the student. The student is responsible for managing the lost study and work time as a result of an observance. Students should not be penalized for excused absences and are required to make-up materials missed from an accommodation.
If you need to make a request for a religious accommodation, you can do so through our online formafter first discussing with the professor.
If you have any questions about the policy or about religious observance, please contact the Office of the University Chaplain at KSLC@american.edu.
These are the obvservances that may require an accommodation:
Month | Date | Holy Day | Belief |
---|---|---|---|
August | 26 - 27 | Krishna Janmashtami | Hinduism |
September | 7 | Ganesh Chaturthi | Hinduism |
October | 2 - 4 | Rosh Hashanah | Judaism |
October | 11 - 12 | Yom Kippur | Judaism |
October | 12 | Vijaya Dashami/Dussehra | Hinduism |
October | 16 - 18 | First two days of Sukkot | Judaism |
October | 23 - 25 | Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah | Judaism |
October | 30 - 1 | Diwali/Deepawali/Bandi Chhor Divas | Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism |
October | 3 - 11 | Navartr朝/Durga Puja | Hinduism |
November | 2 - 3 | Twin Holy Birthdays/Birthday of Bab/Birth of Bah叩炭llah | 京温鞄叩兵鱈 |
November | 15 | Guru Nanak Jayanti/Gurpurab | Sikhism |
November | 24 | Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur | Sikhism |
December | 25 | Christmas | Christianity |
January | 1 - 3 | Gantan-sai | Shinto |
January | 7 | Julian Christmas | Orthodox Christianity |
January | 15 | Makara Sa畊krnti/Pongal | Hinduism |
January | 29 | Lunar New Year | Cultural, Confucian, Taoist, Buddhist |
February | 25 - 26 | Mahivartr朝/Shiv Ratri | Hinduism |
February | 28 | First day of Ramadan | Islam |
March | 1 - 30 | Ramadan | Islam |
March | 1 - 19 | Nineteen Day Fast | 京温鞄叩兵鱈 |
March | 19 - 20 | 鰻温敬-檎炭噛/鰻看敬姻顎噛/鰻温厩姻看噛 | 京温鞄叩兵鱈 |
March | 27- 28 | Laylat al-Qadr | Islam |
March | 30 - 1 | Eid-al-Fitr | Islam |
April | 8 | Wesak / Vaikha P笛r畊ima (Mahayana) | Buddhism |
April | 10 | Mahavir Jayanti | Jainism |
April | 12 - 13 | First Two Days of Passover | Judaism |
April | 14 | 閣温庄壊温一鞄朝 | Sikhism |
April | 18 | Good Friday | Christianity |
April | 19 | Holy Saturday | Christianity |
April | 19 - 20 | Last Two Days of Passover | Judaism |
April | 20 | Easter Sunday/Pascha | Christianity |
April | 21 | 1st day of Ridvan | 京温鞄叩兵鱈 |
April | 29 | 9th day of Ridvan | 京温鞄叩兵鱈 |
May | 2 | 12th day of Ridvan | 京温鞄叩兵鱈 |
May | 12 | Wesak/Vaikha P笛r畊ima (Theravada) | Buddhism |
May | 23 - 24 | Declaration of Bab | 京温鞄叩兵鱈 |
May | 28 | Ascension of Bahaullah | 京温鞄叩兵鱈 |