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.

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.