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Washington State University
Washington State University Office of the Provost

Polices Policies and Procedures

Religious Holidays

Washington State University understands, values and respects the unique spiritual and secular practices and needs of students, faculty, and staff. Doing so is at the core of our commitment to affirming and validating the holistic needs and experience of our community members. It is also our responsibility to comply with the State of Washington SB 5166 from 2019 requiring religious accommodations from academic courses or programs for post-secondary students.

Students

Students, know your rights and how to access them:

For ACADEMIC accommodations: Students who, because of religious obligations, need to be absent from a class, exam, and/or other academic requirement must make arrangements with their instructor(s) within the first two weeks of the semester. This notice must be written – email is best. You do not need to email all instructors, just the one(s) for whose class(es) you are seeking accommodation.

For EMPLOYMENT accommodations: Student employees should work with their supervisor regarding religious accommodation requests. If students have concerns regarding an accommodation requested related to their student employment, they should contact Human Resource Services or Compliance and Civil Rights.

For FOOD/DIETARY accommodations: WSU Dining Services offers a variety of foods to provide an enjoyable, healthy, and safe eating experience for Cougs. Halal, vegetarian, and vegan options are widely available and labeled on menu items. Dining Services staff are always happy to work with other dietary needs, whether they are allergies or related to religious observances. For more information, contact Dining Services’ registered dietitian Alice Ma at alice.ma@wsu.edu.

For HOUSING accommodations: Students who, because of cultural or religious obligations, need housing accommodations in the residence hall environment, are to contact Housing and Residence Life to discuss their needs and what arrangements can be made. Students will work with their hall Residential Educational Director (RED) to arrange specifics. If students have concerns regarding a requested accommodation related to their housing, they should contact Compliance and Civil Rights.

For all of these accommodations, timely and clear communication with instructors, staff, and supervisors will greatly facilitate the accommodation approval process.

 

Faculty and staff

For FACULTY/COURSE INSTRUCTORS

WSU faculty are encouraged to acknowledge and communicate clearly to the students about their right to “reasonably accommodate students who, due to the observance of religious holidays, expect to be absent or endure a significant hardship during certain days of the course or program” (WA SB5166). Including this in the course syllabus and addressing it at the start of each semester will help guarantee a fully informed student population. Faculty should use the approved syllabus statement about the required religious accommodation policy.

For SUPERVISORS OF STUDENTS

Supervisors with questions regarding religious accommodation requests should contact Human Resource Services.

WSU Interfaith Calendar

This calendar of WSU holidays, traditional observances, and major days of religious significance covers the 2021-2022 academic year. You can use the calendar to help identify classes, exams, activities, or events which may intersect with religious observances.

This calendar was compiled and is managed by the WSU Interfaith Working Group. If you do not see a significant religious or spiritual practice reflected here please contact interfaith.council@wsu.edu.

Interfaith Calendar 2022-23

Labor DayAll University HolidaySept. 5, 2022Monday
Rosh HashanahJewishSept. 25-27, 2022Sunday - TuesdayHoliday commences at sundown of the first day and ends at sundown or nightfall of the end date.Occasion on which the precept of a particular tradition, and the practice of many of its adherents, includes significant restrictions on academic activity.
NavaratriHinduSept. 26-Oct. 5, 2022Monday - Wednesday
Yom KippurJewishOct. 4-5, 2022Tuesday - WednesdayHoliday commences at sundown of the first day and ends at sundown or nightfall of the end date.Occasion on which the precept of a particular tradition, and the practice of many of its adherents, includes significant restrictions on academic activity.
Mawlid an NabiIslamOct. 7-8, 2022Friday - SaturdayHoliday commences at sundown of the first day and ends at sundown or nightfall of the end date.
SukkotJewishOct. 9-16, 2022Sunday - SundayHoliday commences at sundown of the first day and ends at sundown or nightfall of the end date.Occasion on which the precept of a particular tradition, and the practice of many of its adherents, includes significant restrictions on academic activity (First 2 days)
Shemini AtzeretJewishOct. 16-18, 2022Sunday - TuesdayHoliday commences at sundown of the first day and ends at sundown or nightfall of the end date.Occasion on which the precept of a particular tradition, and the practice of many of its adherents, includes significant restrictions on academic activity.
Simchat TorahJewishOct. 17-18, 2022Monday - TuesdayHoliday commences at sundown of the first day and ends at sundown or nightfall of the end date.Occasion on which the precept of a particular tradition, and the practice of many of its adherents, includes significant restrictions on academic activity.
Diwali (Deepavali)Hindu-Jain-SikhOct. 24, 2022Monday
Birth of the Báb/Birth of Baha'u'llahBaha'iOct. 26-27, 2022ThursdayHoliday commences at sundown of the first day and ends at sundown or nightfall of the end date.
Birthday of Guru Nanak JayantiSikhNov. 8, 2022Tuesday
Veteran's DayAll University HolidayNov. 11, 2022Friday
Thanksgiving DayAll University HolidayNov. 24, 2022Thursday
Day of the CovenantBaha'iNov. 25, 2022Friday
Native American Heritage DayAll University HolidayNov. 25, 2022Friday
Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-BaháBaha'iNov. 27, 2022Sunday
Bodhi Day (Rohatsu)BuddhismDec. 8, 2022Thursday
Immaculate Conception of MaryCatholic ChristianDec. 8, 2022Thursday
HanukkahJewishDec. 18-26, 2022Sunday - MondayHoliday commences at sundown of the first day and ends at sundown or nightfall of the end date.
Christmas EveChristianDec. 24, 2022Saturday
ChristmasChristianDec. 25, 2022Sunday
New Year's Day CelebratedAll University HolidayJan. 2, 2023Monday
Spring Term 2023
Martin Luther King Jr. DayAll University HolidayJan. 16, 2023Monday
Maha ShivaratriHinduFeb. 18, 2023Saturday
President's DayWSU Class HolidayFeb. 20, 2023Monday
Purim JewishMar. 6-7, 2023Monday - TuesdayHoliday commences at sundown of the first day and ends at sundown or nightfall of the end date.
HoliHinduMar. 8, 2023Wednesday
Naw-Rúz (New Year)Baha'iMar. 21-22, 2023Tuesday - WednesdayHoliday commences at sundown of the first day and ends at sundown or nightfall of the end date.
RamadanIslamMar. 22-Apr. 21, 2023Wednesday - FridayHoliday commences at sundown of the first day and ends at sundown or nightfall of the end date.
Rama NavamiHinduMar. 30, 2023Thursday
Palm SundayChristianApr. 2, 2023Sunday
Mahavir JayantiJainApr. 4, 2023Tuesday
Lord's Evening MealJehovah's Witness ChristianApr. 4, 2023Tuesday
Pesach (Passover)JewishApr. 5-13, 2023Wednesday - ThursdayHoliday commences at sundown of the first day and ends at sundown or nightfall of the end date.Occasion on which the precept of a particular tradition, and the practice of many of its adherents, includes significant restrictions on academic activity (First 2 days)
Good FridayChristianApr. 7, 2023Friday
Easter SundayChristianApr. 9, 2023Sunday
Baisakhi (Vaisakhi)SikhApr. 14, 2023Friday
Laylat al-QadrIslamApr. 18, 2023Tuesday
Eid al Fitr - Ramadan endsIslamApr, 21-22, 2023Friday - Saturday
RidvanBaha'iApr. 21-May 2, 2023Friday - TuesdayHoliday commences at sundown of the first day and ends at sundown or nightfall of the end date.
Summer Term 2023
Declaration of the BabBaha'iMay 24, 2023WednesdayHoliday commences at sundown of the first day and ends at sundown or nightfall of the end date.
ShavuotJewishMay 25-27, 2023Thursday - SaturdayHoliday commences at sundown of the first day and ends at sundown or nightfall of the end date.Occasion on which the precept of a particular tradition, and the practice of many of its adherents, includes significant restrictions on academic activity.
PentecostOrthodox ChristianMay 28, 2023Sunday
Ascension of Baha'u'llahBaha'iMay 29, 2023MondayHoliday commences at sundown of the first day and ends at sundown or nightfall of the end date.
Memorial DayAll University HolidayMay 29, 2023Monday
Eid al-Adha - Sacrifice DayIslamJun. 28-29, 2023Wednesday - ThursdayHoliday commences at sundown of the first day and ends at sundown or nightfall of the end date.
Independence Day HolidayAll University HolidayJul. 4, 2023Tuesday
Martyrdom of the BabBaha'iJul. 9, 2023SundayHoliday commences at sundown of the first day and ends at sundown or nightfall of the end date.
al-Hijra - New Year beginsIslamJul. 18-19, 2023Tuesday - WednesdayHoliday commences at sundown of the first day and ends at sundown or nightfall of the end date.
AshuraIslamJul. 27 - 28, 2023Thursday - FridayHoliday commences at sundown of the first day and ends at sundown or nightfall of the end date.