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.
2018-2019
Fall Term 2018
| Observance | Religion | Date(s) | Day(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sukkot [Feast of Tabernacles] | Jewish | September 24-25, 2018 | Monday-Tuesday | Commences at sundown on the evening preceding the first day and ends at sundown or nightfall of the end date. |
| Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah | Jewish | October 1-2, 2018 | Monday-Tuesday | |
| Birth of the Báb | Bahá'í | October 20, 2018 | Saturday | |
| Birth of Bahá'u'lláh | Bahá'í | November 12, 2018 | Monday | |
| Mawlid-al-Nabi (Muhammed's birthday) | Islamic | November 20, 2018 | Tuesday | |
| Day of the Covenant | Bahá'í | November 26, 2018 | Monday | |
| Ascension of ’Abdu’l-Bahá | Bahá'í | November 28, 2018 | Wednesday | |
| Hanukkah (Chanukah) [8-day Feast] | Jewish | December 3-10, 2018 | Monday-Monday | |
| Bodhi Day (Rohatsu) | Buddhist | December 8, 2018 | Saturday | |
| Winter Solstice (EST) | December 21, 2018 | Friday | ||
| Christmas | Western Christian | December 25, 2018 | Tuesday | |
| Kwanzaa | Interfaith / African- American | December 26, 2018 - January 1, 2019 | Wednesday-Tuesday |
Winter Term 2019
| Observance | Religion | Date(s) | Day(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gantan-sai (New Year) | Shinto | January 1, 2019 | Tuesday | |
| Feast of the Nativity | Eastern Orthodox | January 7, 2019 | Monday | |
| Asian Lunar New Year [Year of the Boar] | Chinese | February 5, 2019 | Tuesday | |
| Vernal Equinox (EDT) | March 20, 2019 | Wednesday | ||
| Naw-Rúz (Bahá'í New Year) | Bahá'í | March 21, 2019 | Thursday | Commences at sundown on the evening preceding the first day and ends at sundown or nightfall of the end date. |
| Purim | Jewish | March 21, 2019 | Thursday | Commences at sundown on the evening preceding the first day and ends at sundown or nightfall of the end date. |
Spring Term 2019
| Observance | Religion | Date(s) | Day(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Sunday | Western Christian | April 14, 2019 | Sunday | |
| Good Friday | Western Christian | April 19, 2019 | Friday | |
| Passover (Pesach), 1st two days | Jewish | April 20-21, 2019 | Saturday-Sunday | Commences at sundown on the evening preceding the first day and ends at sundown or nightfall of the end date. |
| Easter | Western Christian | April 21, 2019 | Sunday | |
| Palm Sunday | Eastern Orthodox | April 21, 2019 | Sunday | |
| Ridvan Festival, 1st of 12 days | Baha'í | April 21, 2019 | Sunday | 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 26, 2019 | Friday | |
| Passover (Pesach), concluding days | Jewish | April 26-27, 2019 | Fri.-Sat. | Commences at sundown on the evening preceding the first day and ends at sundown or nightfall of the end date. |
| Pascha | Eastern Orthodox | April 28, 2019 | Sunday | |
| 9th Day of Ridvan | Bahá'í | April 29, 2019 | Monday | Commences at sundown on the evening preceding the first day and ends at sundown or nightfall of the end date. |
| 12th Day of Ridvan | Bahá'í | May 2, 2019 | Thursday | |
| Beginning of Ramadan | Islamic | May 6, 2019 | Monday | |
| Declaration of the Báb | Bahá'í | May 23, 2019 | Thursday | |
| Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh | Bahá'í | May 29, 2019 | Wednesday | |
| Eid-al-Fitr (Eid-ul-Fitr) (first day of Shawwal) | Islamic | June 4, 2019 | Tuesday | Commences at sundown on the evening preceding the first day and ends at sundown or nightfall of the end date. Dates are from Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA) and European Council for Fatwa and Research (ECFR) adopted Islamic Calendar. Events based on sightability of the Moon in North America take place on the day following these dates. |
| Shavuot (Feast of Weeks) | Jewish | June 9-10, 2019 | Sunday-Monday | Commences at sundown on the evening preceding the first day and ends at sundown or nightfall of the end date. |
| Summer Solstice (EDT) | June 21, 2019 | Friday |
Summer Session 2019
| Observance | Religion | Date(s) | Day(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martyrdom of the Báb | Bahá'í | July 9, 2019 | Tuesday | Commences at sundown on the evening preceding the first day and ends at sundown or nightfall of the end date. |
Calendar prepared by the Division of Equity and Inclusion, July 2016