Religious Holidays & Observances Calendar

Case Western Reserve University, the Office of the Dean of Students, and the Interreligious Council (IRC) promotes the celebration of our culturally and spiritually diverse community and align our core values for a welcoming, inclusive institution. CWRU acknowledges that, on occasion, religious holidays and observances might preclude members of our community, including students, faculty, and staff from participating in academic, professional, and regular duties.

CWRU is committed to ensuring that all members of our community act and engage in good faith efforts when seeking or responding to requests related to religious holidays and observances. The Office of Student Affairs and Office of Equity have established policies for Religious Accommodations and Religious Holidays. The Office of Equity is available to provide guidance, resources, and procedures regarding requests of Religious Accommodations. To review the Office of Equity's presentation/training module about Religious Accommodations, please visit this link. Holiday closings that are included in the University's official Academic Calendar can be viewed here.  The University's main schedule of closings and holidays can be viewed here.

Any student who is unable to attend classes or participate in any examination, study, or work requirement on a particular day because of their religious beliefs is excused from any such activity. The student will be given the opportunity to make up the examination or work that is missed, provided that the make-up work does not create any unreasonable burden upon the University. When possible, students should give notice to instructors early in the semester about missing class because of a religious observance.

Faculty should accommodate any student who is unable to attend class or participate in any examination, study, or work requirement on a particular day because of their religious beliefs. The student will be given the opportunity to make up the examination or work that was missed, provided that the make-up work does not create an unreasonable burden upon the University. Faculty should request that students give notice to instructors as early as possible in the semester.
Source: Faculty Handbook, Chapter 4, Article XVII (page 168)

RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS/OBSERVANCES CALENDAR* 

The following calendar is not an exhaustive list of recognized religious observances; therefore, some faith, religious, and spiritual traditions might not be represented on this calendar. In some traditions, the holiday or observance will begin at sundown the evening before the dates listed below. Additionally, in some traditions, local and regional customs may create variation in the date of observance for certain holidays or dates may not be fixed but depend on the lunar calendar or phases of the moon. Not all of the holidays and observances listed below include work restrictions that will interfere with class attendance or professional/work duties.

**Usually begins at sundown the day before this date.

***Local or regional customs may result in variations of this date.

*For more information on religious holidays and observances, the Interfaith Calendar can be viewed here.