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.
2019-20
Name of Holiday |
Religion |
Dates |
Days of the Week |
---|
Janmashtami |
Hindu |
8/23/19 |
Friday |
Eid al-Adha |
Muslim |
8/10/19 |
Saturday |
Muharram (Al Hijrah - New Year) * |
Muslim |
9/1/19 |
Sunday |
Navaratri / Dassehra |
Hindu |
9/29/19 - 10/7/19 |
Sunday - Monday |
Rosh Hashanah * |
Jewish |
9/30/19 - 10/1/19 |
Monday - Tuesday |
Yom Kippur * |
Jewish |
10/9/19 |
Wednesday |
Sukkot * |
Jewish |
10/14/19 - 10/20/19 |
Wednesday - Tuesday |
Sh’mini Atzeret * |
Jewish |
10/21/19 |
Monday |
Simchat Torah * |
Jewish |
10/22/19 |
Tuesday |
Diwali |
Hindu |
10/27/19 |
Sunday |
Mawlid-al-Nabi (birthday of Mohammad) * |
Muslim |
11/10/19 |
Sunday |
Hanukkah * |
Jewish |
12/23/19 - 12/30/19 |
Monday - Monday |
Christmas |
Christian |
12/25/19 |
Wednesday |
Christmas (Orthodox) |
Orthodox Christian |
1/7/20 |
Tuesday |
Ash Wednesday |
Christian |
2/26/20 |
Wednesday |
Maha Shivaratri |
Hindu |
2/21/20 |
Friday |
Beginning of Lent (Clean Monday) |
Orthodox Christian |
2/26/20 |
Monday |
Purim * |
Jewish |
3/10/20 |
Tuesday |
Holi |
Hindu |
3/9/20 - 3/10/20 |
Monday - Tuesday |
Ramanavami |
Hindu |
4/2/20 |
Thursday |
Good Friday |
Christian |
4/10/20 |
Friday |
Passover * |
Jewish |
4/9/20 - 4/16/20 |
Thursday - Thursday |
Easter |
Christian |
4/12/20 |
Sunday |
Good Friday (Orthodox) |
Orthodox Christian |
4/17/20 |
Friday |
Easter (Pascha) |
Orthodox Christian |
4/19/20 |
Sunday |
Ramadan (Beginning) * |
Muslim |
4/24/20 |
Friday |
Shavouth * |
Jewish |
5/29/20 |
Friday |
Lailat Ul Qadr * |
Muslim |
5/19/20 |
Tuesday |
Eid al-Fitr |
Muslim |
5/24/20 |
Sunday |
* All Jewish and Muslim holidays listed above begin at sundown on the previous day. |