Religious Observances
Students who need to be absent from a class for religious obligation or observance reasons must make arrangements with instructors in advance using the Student Religious Accommodation Request Form. Completed forms must be submitted directly to the professor by the end of the second week of the term. One form is required for each requested observance and for each course.
The University of Oregon is committed to compliance with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations relating to religious accommodations of its stakeholders, and respects the right of all students and employees to observe their religious holidays, and will make reasonable accommodations, upon request, for such observances.
You can use the following Religious Observances Calendar to identify events, classes, exams or UO activities which may intersect with religious observances.
2019-2020
Fall Term 2019
| Observance | Religion | Date(s) | Day(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rosh Hashanah | Jewish | September 29 - October 1, 2019 | Sunday-Tuesday | Commences at sundown on the evening preceding the first day and ends at sundown or nightfall of the end date. |
| Yom Kippur | Jewish | October 8-9, 2019 | Tuesday-Wednesday | |
| Sukkot [Feast of Tabernacles] | Jewish | October 14-20, 2019 | Monday-Sunday | |
| Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah | Jewish | October 21-22, 2019 | Monday-Tuesday | |
| Birth of the Báb | Bahá'í | October 29, 2019 | Tuesday | |
| Birth of Bahá'u'lláh | Bahá'í | October 30, 2019 | Wednesday | |
| Mawlid-al-Nabi (Muhammed's birthday) | Islamic | November 10, 2019 | Sunday | |
| Day of the Covenant | Bahá'í | November 26, 2019 | Tuesday | |
| Ascension of ’Abdu’l-Bahá | Bahá'í | November 28, 2019 | Thursday | |
| Bodhi Day (Rohatsu) | Buddhist | December 8, 2019 | Sunday | |
| Hanukkah (Chanukah) [8-day Feast] | Jewish | December 23-30, 2019 | Monday-Monday | Commences at sundown on the evening preceding the first day and ends at sundown or nightfall of the end date. |
| Winter Solstice (EST) | December 21, 2019 | Saturday | ||
| Christmas | Western Christian | December 25, 2019 | Wednesday | |
| Kwanzaa | Interfaith / African- American | December 26, 2019 - January 1, 2020 | Thursday-Wednesday |
Winter Term 2020
| Observance | Religion | Date(s) | Day(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gantan-sai (New Year) | Shinto | January 1, 2020 | Wednesday | |
| Feast of the Nativity | Eastern Orthodox | January 7, 2020 | Tuesday | |
| Asian Lunar New Year [Year of the Rat] | Chinese | January 25, 2020 | Saturday | |
| Purim | Jewish | March 10, 2020 | Tuesday | Commences at sundown on the evening preceding the first day and ends at sundown or nightfall of the end date. |
| Vernal Equinox (EDT) | March 19, 2020 | Thursday | ||
| Naw-Rúz (Bahá'í New Year) | Bahá'í | March 20, 2020 | Friday | Commences at sundown on the evening preceding the first day and ends at sundown or nightfall of the end date. |
Spring Term 2020
| Observance | Religion | Date(s) | Day(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Sunday | Western Christian | April 5, 2020 | Sunday | |
| Passover (Pesach), 1st two days | Jewish | April 9-10, 2020 | Thursday-Friday | Commences at sundown on the evening preceding the first day and ends at sundown or nightfall of the end date. |
| Good Friday | Western Christian | April 10, 2020 | Friday | |
| Easter | Western Christian | April 12, 2020 | Sunday | |
| Palm Sunday | Eastern Orthodox | April 12, 2020 | Sunday | |
| Passover (Pesach), concluding days | Jewish | April 15-16, 2020 | Wednesday-Thursday | Commences at sundown on the evening preceding the first day and ends at sundown or nightfall of the end date. |
| Holy Friday | Eastern Orthodox | April 17, 2020 | Friday | |
| Pascha | Eastern Orthodox | April 19, 2020 | Sunday | |
| Ridvan Festival, 1st of 12 days | Baha'í | April 20, 2020 | Monday | Commences at sundown on the evening preceding the first day and ends at sundown or nightfall of the end date. |
| Beginning of Ramadan | Islamic | April 24, 2020 | Friday | |
| 9th Day of Ridvan | Bahá'í | April 28, 2020 | Tuesday | |
| 12th Day of Ridvan | Bahá'í | May 1, 2020 | Friday | |
| Declaration of the Báb | Bahá'í | May 23, 2020 | Saturday | |
| Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh | Bahá'í | May 28, 2020 | Thursday | |
| Eid-al-Fitr (Eid-ul-Fitr) (first day of Shawwal) | Islamic | May 24, 2020 | Sunday | |
| Shavuot (Feast of Weeks) | Jewish | May 29-30, 2020 | Friday-Saturday | |
| Summer Solstice (EDT) | June 20, 2020 | Saturday |
Summer Session 2020
| Observance | Religion | Date(s) | Day(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martyrdom of the Báb | Bahá'í | July 9, 2020 | Thursday | Commences at sundown on the evening preceding the first day and ends at sundown or nightfall of the end date. |
| Eid al-Adha | Islamic | July 31, 2020 | Friday | Commences at sundown on the evening preceding the first day and ends at sundown or nightfall of the end date. |
| Janmashtami | Hindu | August 11, 2020 | Tuesday | |
| Muharram (Al Hijrah New Year) | Islamic | August 20, 2020 | Thursday | Commences at sundown on the evening preceding the first day and ends at sundown or nightfall of the end date. |
Calendar first prepared by the Division of Equity and Inclusion, July 2016, updated July 2019.