Both Rice's policy of non-discrimination on the basis of religion and our core values of diversity and inclusion require instructors to make reasonable accommodations to help students avoid negative academic consequences with their religious obligations conflict with academic requirements.
Every reasonable effort should be made to allow members of the university community to observe their religious holidays without jeopardizing the fulfillment of their academic obligations. It is never acceptable for an instructor to compel a student to choose between religious observation and academic work.
Absence from classes or examinations for religious reasons does not relieve students from responsibility for any part of the course work required during the period of the absence. It is the obligation of students to provide faculty with reasonable notice of the dates of religious holidays on which they will be absent.
|
Month |
Date |
Holy Day |
Religion |
|
August |
9 |
Hijra (New Year) |
Islam |
|
August |
18 |
Ashura |
Islam |
|
September |
7 & 8 |
Rosh Hashana (evening of 9/6) |
Judaism |
|
September |
10 |
Ganesh Chaturthi |
Hinduism |
|
September |
15 &16 |
Yom Kippur |
Judaism |
|
September |
21 & 22 |
First and Second Days of Sukkot |
Judaism |
|
September |
28 & 29 |
Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah |
Judaism |
|
October |
7 |
Navaratri Begins (10/7-10/15) |
Hinduism |
|
October |
15 |
Vijaya Dashami |
Hinduism |
|
November |
4 |
Diwali |
Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism |
|
November |
6 & 7 |
Birth of Bab |
Baháʼí |
|
November |
6 & 7 |
Birth of Baha’u’llah |
Baháʼí |
|
December |
25 |
Christmas |
Christianity |
|
January |
7 |
Julian Christmas |
Orthodox Christianity |
|
January |
14 |
Pongal/Makar Sankranti |
Hinduism |
|
March |
1 |
Maha Shivaratri |
Hinduism |
|
March |
17 & 18 |
Holi |
Hinduism |
|
March |
21 & 22 |
Naw Ruz |
Baháʼí |
|
April |
1 |
Lunar New Year/Yugadi |
Hinduism |
|
April |
2 |
Ramadan begins (through May 2) |
Islam |
|
April |
14 |
Solar New Year/Vaisakhi/Puthandu |
Hinduism |
|
April |
15 |
Good Friday |
Christianity |
|
April |
15, 16 & 17 |
First Days of Passover (through 4/23) |
Judaism |
|
April |
16 |
Holy Saturday |
Christianity |
|
April |
17 |
Easter |
Christianity |
|
April |
21 |
1st day of Ridvan |
Baháʼí |
|
April |
22 |
Good Friday |
Orthodox Christianity |
|
April |
22 & 23 |
Last Two Days of Passover |
Judaism |
|
April |
24 |
Pesach/Easter |
Orthodox Christianity |
|
April |
29 |
9th day of Ridvan |
Baháʼí |
|
May |
2 |
Ramadan ends |
Islam |
|
May |
2 & 3 |
Eid-al-Fitr |
Islam |
|
May |
2 |
12th day of Ridvan |
Baháʼí |
|
May |
24 |
Declaration of Bab |
Baháʼí |
|
May |
29 |
Ascension of Baha’u’llah |
Baháʼí |
|
June |
4, 5 & 6 |
Shavuot |
Judaism |
*This list is not a complete listing of religious holidays. If you would like a religious holiday added to the list, please provide the information via email to ugdean@rice.edu.