Religious Observances

The University of North Texas is required to accommodate student and employees’ sincerely held religious observances or practices, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the work or business of the University. Federal law protects religious beliefs and non-beliefs, and this includes beliefs that are not associated with an organized religion. A reasonable religious accommodation is any adjustment to the work or educational environment that will allow the employee or student to practice their religion. This includes flexible scheduling, flexible deadlines, voluntary substitutions, modification of grooming requirements and other practices, policies or procedures.

Please contact OEO if you have questions about implementing a religious accommodation or responding to a request for a religious accommodation. Faculty-members and supervisors may not request proof from a student or employee that they observe the tenets of a religion.

A list of major religious observances is provided below. Please note that it is not an exhaustive list, and students or employees may request accommodations to observe religious holidays that are not on this list.

2018-19

Name of Holiday Religion Dates Days of the Week
Janmashtami Hindu 9/2/18 Sunday
Eid al-Adha Muslim 8/21/18 Tuesday
Muharram (Al Hijrah - New Year) * Muslim 9/11/18 Tuesday
Navaratri / Dassehra Hindu 10/9/18 - 10/17/18 Tuesday - Wednesday
Rosh Hashanah * Jewish 9/9/18 - 9/11/18 Sunday - Tuesday
Yom Kippur * Jewish 9/19/18 Wednesday
Sukkot * Jewish 9/30/18 Sunday
Sh’mini Atzeret * Jewish 10/1/18 Monday
Simchat Torah * Jewish 10/2/18 Tuesday
Diwali Hindu 11/7/18 Wednesday
Maulid al-Nabi * Muslim 11/20/18 Tuesday
Hanukkah * Jewish 12/3/18 - 12/10/18 Monday - Monday
Christmas Christian 12/25/18 Tuesday
Christmas (Orthodox) Orthodox Christian 1/7/19 Monday
Ash Wednesday Christian 3/6/19 Wednesday
Maha Shivaratri  Hindu 3/5/19 Tuesday
Beginning of Lent (Clean Monday) Orthodox Christian 3/11/19 Monday
Purim * Jewish 3/21/19 Thursday
Holi Hindu 3/21/19 Thursday
Ramanavami Hindu 4/14/19 Sunday
Good Friday Christian 4/19/19 Friday
Passover * Jewish 4/20/19 - 4/27/19 Saturday - Saturday
Easter Christian 4/21/19 Sunday
Good Friday (Orthodox) Orthodox Christian 4/26/19 Friday
Easter (Pascha) Orthodox Christian 4/28/19 Sunday
Ramadan (Beginning) * Muslim 5/6/19 Monday
Shavouth * Jewish 6/9/19 Sunday
Laylat al-Qadr * Muslim 6/1/19 Saturday
Eid al-Fitr Muslim 6/4/19 Tuesday
* All Jewish and Muslim holidays listed above begin at sundown on the previous day.