The following list of religious and cultural holidays may be used by instructors developing class syllabi and for planning, or by supervisors of student employees. Although many of these days are not university holidays, the information can be used by instructors or supervisors at their discretion when responding to student requests for accommodations for religious purposes. Making accommodations does not excuse a student of any course requirements, but rather supports adjustments to honor their religious observances. Reference the Accommodation of Religious Creed policy.
This is not an exhaustive list and is not intended to be inclusive of all religious observances; there may be other holidays that pose conflicts for students. Many religions contain multiple sects and multiple practices of religious celebrations. Several holidays are calculated on a lunar calendar and dates are approximate. Some holidays begin and end at sundown.
Religious Creed Policy
The Berkeley campus’ Religious Creed Policy for accommodation of students who miss exams because of their religious commitment is distributed annually at the beginning of each fall semester. The most recent statement is dated August 18, 2010. The policy follows:
Accommodation of Religious Creed
In compliance with Education code, Section 92640(a), it is the official policy of the University of California at Berkeley to permit any student to undergo a test or examination, without penalty, at a time when that activity would not violate the student’s religious creed, unless administering the examination at an alternate time would impose an undue hardship which could not reasonably have been avoided. Requests to accommodate a student’s religious creed by scheduling tests or examinations at alternative times should be submitted directly to the faculty member responsible for administering the examination.
Reasonable common sense, judgment and the pursuit of mutual goodwill should result in the positive resolution of scheduling conflicts. The regular campus appeals process applies if a mutually satisfactory arrangement cannot be achieved.
Religious and Cultural Holidays
Reference: Our gratitude to Cornell University for compiling this list and Duke University for their insights into Jewish holidays.
An *asterisk indicates that a holiday begins at sundown the day before this date and ends at sundown on this date. A ^ special character indicates Jewish holidays when works is traditionally forbidden and some Jewish students may not travel or write. These include Rosh Hashanah; Yom Kippur; the first two days of Sukkot; Simchat Torah; Shemini Atzeret; the first two and last two days of Passover (Pesach); and Shavuot. Note: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and the first night/day of Passover are observed by the majority of Jews and are among the most important dates on the calendar for familial and Jewish communal gathering.