Religious ACCOMMODATIONS for Students
Every student has the right to pursue their education while practicing their faith.
New York State law requires campuses to excuse, without penalty, individual students’ absences due to religious beliefs and to provide equivalent opportunities for makeup exams, study or work requirements missed due to such absences.
To request a reasonable religious accommodation, contact your course instructor(s) directly and with sufficient time for them to make the accommodation. Instructors should work directly with students to accommodate religious observances.
Whenever possible, instructors should not schedule exams, presentations or major due dates on major religious holidays (see below).
Religious Holidays
The following are upcoming religious observances practiced by our students, faculty and staff. Note: This is not an exhaustive list. Students, faculty and staff participate in other religious holidays and observances that are not listed here
The Haudenosaunee has 13 ceremonies throughout the year, representing the 13 moons. These ceremonies occur at various times of the year, often following seasonal changes.
Most ceremonies are a way of expressing thanks to the people, the natural world, the spirit world and the creator. It is hoped that this will help maintain the health and prosperity of the nations.
Each ceremony includes an opening and closing prayer followed by dances and songs. Various stories that are special to the Haudenosaunee are often shared to continue traditional teachings.
The ceremonies are:
- Midwinter: Second week in January and lasts for approximately eight days
- Maple Ceremony: Second week in February and lasts one day
- Thunder Dance: First week in April to welcome back the thunderers
- Sun and Moon dance: Beginning of May to give thanks to the sun and second week of May to give thanks to the moon in the morning and evening respectively
- Seed Ceremony: Middle of May and lasts one day
- Planting Ceremony: End of May
- Strawberry Ceremony: Middle of May and lasts one day
- String bean: First week in August and lasts one day
- Corn: Middle of August
- Harvest: Middle of October and lasts four days
- Thunder: November
- End of seasons: December
Please visit the Haudenosaunee Confederacy website to learn more about the Haudenosaunee ceremonies.
Holiday or Observance/ Date(s) /Faith(s)
- Feast of the Immaculate Conception December 8, 2025-Christian
- Chanukah (Hanukkah) Sundown-December 14 to Nightfall December 22, 2025-Jewish
- Christmas- December 25, 2025-Christian
- Nativity of Christ-December 25, 2025-Orthodox Christian
- Kwanzaa -December 26, 2025, to January 1, 2026- African
Holiday or Observance/ Date(s) /Faith(s)
- Kwanzaa -December 26, 2025, to January 1, 2026-African
- Mahayana New Year -January 3, 2026 - Buddhist
- Feast of the Epiphany -January 6, 2026-Christian
- Lailat al-Mi'raj -January 15 to 16, 2026-Islamic
- Vasant Panchami -January 23, 2026- Hindu
Holiday or Observance/Date(s)/ Faith(s)
- Tu BiShvat Sundown February 1 to Nightfall February 2, 2026 -Jewish
- Presentation of our Lord in the Temple (Candlemas) February 2, 2026 -Orthodox Christian, Roman Catholic
- Lailat al-Bara'ah - February 2 to 3, 2026-Islamic
- Nirvana Day -February 15, 2026 -Buddhist,Hindu
- Maha Shivaratri -6:34 a.m. February 15 to 7:04 a.m. February 16, 2026-Hindu
- Lunar New Year- February 17 to March 3, 2026 Buddhist, Confucian, Taoist
- Shrove Tuesday -February 17, 2026 -Protestant
- Mardi Gras- February 17, 2026- Roman Catholic
- Ramadan-February 17 to March 19, 2026- Islamic
- Ash Wednesday -February 18, 2026 -Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant
- Great Lent -February 23 to April 11, 2026- Orthodox Christian
Holiday or Observance /Date(s) /Faith(s)
- Lunar New Year- February 17 to March 3, 2026 -Buddhist, Confucian, Taoist
- Ramadan- February 17 to March 19, 2026- Islamic
- Great Lent -February 23 to April 11, 2026 -Orthodox Christian
- Sunday of Orthodoxy -March 1, 2026 -Orthodox Christian
- Purim Sundown- March 2 to Nightfall March 3, 2026- Jewish
- Magha Puja Day- March 3, 2026 Buddhist
- Holi- March 4, 2026 -Hindu
- Hindu New Year (Gudi Padwa or Ugadi) -March 19, 2026- Hindu
- Eid al-Fitr -March 19 to March 20, 2026 -Islamic
- Feast of the Annunciation- March 25, 2026 -Orthodox Christian
- Roman Catholic Rama Navami-March 26, 2026 -Hindu
- Palm Sunday -March 29, 2026 Christian- Orthodox, Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant
- Hanuman Jayanti- 9:36 p.m. March 31 to 10:11 p.m. April 1, 2026 -Hindu
Holiday or Observance/ Date(s)/Faith(s)
- Great Lent- February 23 to April 11, 2026- Orthodox Christian
- Hanuman Jayanti -9:36 p.m. March 31 to 10:11 p.m. April 1, 2026- Hindu
- Passover - April 1- April 9 - Jewish
- Maundy- Thursday April 2, 2026 -Protestant
- Holy Thursday -April 2, 2026- Roman Catholic
- Theravada New Year (Buddhist New Year/Buddha's Birth)- April 2, 2026- Buddhist
- Great and Holy Thursday- April 2, 2026 -Orthodox Christian
- Good Friday- April 3, 2026 -Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant
- Great and Holy Friday- April 3, 2026 -Orthodox Christian
- Holy Saturday/Easter Vigil -April 4, 2026-Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant
- Easter Sunday- April 5, 2026- Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant Orthodox
- Orthodox Palm Sunday- April 5, 2026- Orthodox Christian
- Orthodox Pascha (Easter) April 12, 2026- Orthodox Christian
- Yom HaShoah Sundown- April 23 to Nightfall April 24, 2026- Jewish
Holiday or Observance/Date(s)/Faith(s)
- Visakha Puja Day / Buddha Day- May 1, 2026- Buddhist
- Ascension -Thursday May 14, 2026-Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant
- Shavuot Sundown-May 21 to Nightfall May 23, 2026 -Jewish
- Orthodox Ascension -Thursday May 21, 2026 -Orthodox Christian
- Pentecost-May 24, 2026-Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant
- Eid al-Adha- May 27 to 30, 2026 -Islamic
- Orthodox Pentecost-May 31, 2026 -Orthodox Christian
Holiday or Observance/ Date(s)/ Faith(s)
Corpus Christi- June 4, 2026 -Christian
Holiday or Observance/Date(s)/ Faith(s)
Tisha B'Av Sundown -July 22 to Nightfall July 23, 2026 -Jewish
Asalha Puja Day -July 29, 2026 -Buddhist