Religious Days of Observance

As we continue to enhance our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, Southern recognizes that cultural diversity extends to a variety of cultural practices in our community, including spiritual diversity. As Southern communities will be celebrating their respective upcoming religious holidays this academic year, we can show we care by being aware, respectful, and supportive to all.

Southern is committed to making every reasonable effort to accommodate religious observances, which include fasting and work restrictions in many religions.  On such days, it is important for all who do not share in these same practices to be considerate of their students, colleagues, and peers.

Religious Accommodations

Faculty should be mindful of holy days that might impact student class attendance or students' ability to complete assignments on respective due dates. Administrative and academic units, as well as student organizations, should consider holy days when scheduling department-wide or university-wide events and programming. See Religious Accommodations in Teaching.

Students interested in holy day accommodations for class and lab assignments, attendance, or athletic practice/competition should contact faculty or coaches well in advance with such requests.  To learn about how to participate in a faith-based organization, please see Multicultural and Interfaith Organizations. 

Religious Observances Calendar

To learn more about the various religious observances, please see the list of holy days observed by many students, staff, and faculty members in our community.  This list, though exhaustive in its inclusion of traditions represented on our campus, is not complete. Consequently, please direct suggestions for additions to the list of religious days of observance to DEI.

• Calendar of Observances
• Detailed descriptions of the holy days