In a diverse community with a myriad of faith practices and religious traditions, building an inclusive environment requires: 1) choosing curiosity about unfamiliar religious traditions, 2) actively combating bias and stereotypes connected to religion, and 3) honoring the choices of individuals to engage in faith practices.
Varying Religious Traditions
Many religious traditions incorporate the practice of fasting – abstaining from all or some kinds of food or drink – as part of observances for purification or self-discipline (e.g., Ramadan in Islam, Yom Kippur in Judaism, Lent in Christianity, etc.).
Many religious traditions incorporate a form of meditation and prayer - understood as similar but distinct practices - for reflection, supplication, clarity seeking, and/or connection to a deity.
The practice of head covering is incorporated into several religious traditions and may convey symbolism, status or status change within a religion, and/or modesty (e.g., Hijab and Kufi/Taqiyah in Islam, Habit in Christianity, Turban [Pagri] in Sikh, etc). Head coverings often vary by gender within a religion.
While each faith has distinct beliefs, many key aspects are shared. Take a moment to explore religious traditions.
Buddhism is a religion and philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha.
Hinduism is unique in that is a collection of religious, cultural, and philosophical beliefs that honors various symbols and deities, respects several holy books, and celebrates with a wide variety of traditions, holidays, and customs.
Christianity is a major religion stemming from the life, teachings, and death of Jesus of Nazareth.
Islam is a major world religion stemming from the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad.
Judaism is characterized by a belief in one transcendent God who revealed himself to Abraham, Moses, and the Hebrew prophets.
The Pluralism Project provides an overview of several of the world’s religious traditions through the lens of America. Visit the page to explore the wide breadth of religious beliefs.
Faith, for many individuals, is a central component of who they are and how they experience the world around them. Like other identities, it is also a place where they can experience bias. Watch this conversation to learn more about how you can help combat religious bias.
Members of the Rutgers community recognize various religious holy days and culturally significant holidays.
Read the frequently asked questions below to learn more about the university policy on religious observance and its impact on students and employees.
It is University policy (University Regulation on Attendance, Book 2, 2.47B, formerly 60.14f) to excuse without penalty students who are absent because of religious observances; or participation in University-sponsored intercollegiate athletics contests, practices, associated travel, and other similar obligations; and to allow the make up of exercises or examinations missed because of such absence. Except when related to clinical assignments, examinations and special required out-of-class activities shall ordinarily not be scheduled on those days when religiously observant students refrain from participating in secular activities. Absences for reasons of religious obligation shall not be counted for purposes of reporting. To learn more, read the university policy on course attendance.
Rutgers University recognizes and respects the religious diversity of its employees. The university prohibits discrimination based on an employee’s religion or creed and will provide reasonable accommodations for employees to enable them to exercise their sincerely held religious beliefs. To learn more about accommodations for staff employees, visit the Office of Employment Equity religious accommodations page. To learn more about accommodations for faculty, visit the Office of Academic Labor Relations religious accommodations page.
It is the policy of the University not to cancel classes on religious holidays. However, students should exercise their own judgment as to attendance in accordance with the dictates of specific school or program policies and requirements governing class attendance. To learn more, read the university policy on course attendance.
For some traditions, the interruption of regular activities and/or work is a component of the observance; this may impact participation and completion of assignments. Many religious traditions also observe specific times of fasting, which may impact focus and energy levels.
For Jewish and Islamic holidays, the observance may begin at sundown on the day before the holiday. Jewish holy days will end one hour after sunset of the closing day. The observance of Islamic and Hindu holy days may also vary depending on the sighting of the moon.
Members of the Interfaith Alliance have provided resources to support Islamic and Jewish communities during selected days of observance.
For our Muslim students who observe Ramadan, this may be your first time navigating Ramadan during college and during the academic year. Chaplain Kaiser Aslam has put together some information to help support Muslim students at this time with the CILRU Ramadan Guide.
Rutgers Hillel has provided this sheet to serve as an introduction to some typical practices that Jewish students might engage in during the High Holidays that could affect their time in and out of the classroom.
The list below compiles dates to be mindful of during the 2024-2025 academic year. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of all holidays or observances, nor is it an active catalog of religious communities on campus. It is a starting point to recognize and respect the array of faith traditions found within our community.
** Jewish and Muslim holy days begin at sundown on the first day, as indicated by two asterisks.
# Some of these dates are not fixed to a calendar but based on the actual sighting of the moon, so there may be some variance by day, as indicated by the pound sign.
Date(s) |
Holiday or Observance |
Religion |
|---|---|---|
| August 31 - September 7, 2024 | Paryushan | Jain |
| October 2-4, 2024 | Rosh Hashanah ** | Jewish |
| October 3-12, 2024 | Navrati/Dussehra | Hindu |
| October 11-12, 2024 | Yom Kippur ** | Jewish |
| October 16-23, 2024 | Sukkot ** | Jewish |
| October 23-25, 2024 | Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah ** | Jewish |
| November 1, 2024 | Feast of All Saints | Christian |
| November 1, 2024 | Diwali | Hindu/Jain/Sikh |
| November 2, 2024 | All Souls’ Day | Christian |
| December 8, 2024 | Feast of the Immaculate Conception | Christian |
| December 25 - January 2, 2025 | Hanukkah ** | Jewish |
Date (s) |
Holiday or Observance |
Religion |
|---|---|---|
| January 7, 2025 | Eastern Orthodox Christmas | Christian Orthodox |
| January 14, 2025 | Sankranti | Hindu |
| February 26, 2025 | Maha Shivaratri | Hindu |
| February 28, 2025 | # Ramadan Begins ** | Islamic |
| March 5, 2025 | Ash Wednesday | Christian |
| March 5, 2025 | Lent Begins | Christian |
| March 13-14, 2025 | Purim ** | Jewish |
| March 14, 2025 | Holi | Hindu |
| March 29, 2025 | # Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan) ** | Islamic |
| April 12-20, 2025 | Passover (Pesach) ** | Jewish |
| April 18, 2025 | Good Friday | Christian |
| April 18, 2025 | Orthodox Good Friday | Christian Orthodox |
| April 20, 2025 | Easter | Christian |
| April 21, 2025 | Orthodox Easter | Christian Orthodox |
Students are responsible for notifying their professor of conflicts with course materials and religious or cultural observance in a timely manner. The expectation is that an arrangement can be made between the professor and the student. The student is responsible for managing the lost study and work time as a result of an observance. Students should not be penalized for excused absences and are required to make up materials missed from an accommodation. Given the impact that fasting can have on a student’s ability to fulfill their academic responsibilities, some students may request alternative scheduling for exams and assignments during these periods. If you are in need of assistance, contact the Dean of Students office on your respective campus.
The Office of Employment Equity (“OEE”) is responsible for overseeing and coordinating requests for accommodation received from faculty and staff employees based on religion. In order to request a religious accommodation, the employee needs to complete an Accommodation Request Form or complete the form through the portal here. Learn more about the religious accommodations process for staff and faculty by visiting the Office of Employee Equity webpage or calling OEE with specific questions regarding the religious accommodations process at 848-932-9373.
