UCCS faculty and staff should be mindful of religious holidays and particularly those celebrated by cultures and faiths different than their own.
Kee Warner, associate vice chancellor for diversity and inclusiveness, Academic Affairs, encouraged faculty and staff to be cognizant of the beliefs of others and to follow a UCCS policy that provides for accommodation when spiritual beliefs and ceremonial obligations conflict with work or academic schedules. Additionally, the UCCS policy says the campus will strive to avoid scheduling university-sponsored events with religious holidays.
Students should notify faculty and staff should notify supervisors as early as possible about potential conflicts.
A calendar of September and October religious events celebrated by different faiths follows:
SEPTEMBER
1
Ganesha Chaturthi – Hindu
Ecclesiastical New Year – Orthodox Christian
2-10
Paryushana Parva – Jain
8
Nativity of Mary – Christian
14
Elevation of the Life Giving Cross – Holy Cross Day – Christian
23
Mabon – Wicca/Pagan northern hemisphere
Ostara – Wicca/Pagan southern hemisphere
27
Meskel – Ethiopian Orthodox Christian
28-Oct 5
Navaratri – Hindu
29-30
Rosh Hashanah – Jewish
29
Michael and All Angels – Christian
OCTOBER
4
St Francis Day – Catholic Christian
5
Waqf al Arafa – Hajj Day * ** – Islam
6
Dussehra – Hindu
8
Yom Kippur – Jewish
10
Thanksgiving – Interfaith – Canada
13-19 (13-14 Primary Obligation Days)
Sukkot – Jewish
20
Birth of the Báb – Baha’i
Shemini Atzeret – Jewish
Installation of Scriptures as Guru Granth – Sikh
21
Simchat Torah – Jewish
22
New Year – Jain
25-28
Deepavali Hindu
26
Diwali – Jain – Hindu – Sikh
28
Milvian Bridge Day – Christian
30
Reformation Day – Protestant Christian
31
All Hallows Eve – Christian
The UCCS policy for accommodation for religious observances which was enacted this year may be found at: http://www.uccs.edu/~vcaf/policies/100-008ReligiousObservance.pdf.
A calendar of religious events is available at http://www.interfaithcalendar.org
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