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Religious Observances
Fall 2011
Thu -
Fri Sept 29-30 Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year)
Sat Oct 8 Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)
Thu-
Wed Oct 13-19 Sukkot (Festival of Tabernacles)
Thu-Fr Oct 20-21 Shemini Atzeret/Simhat Torah
Wed Oct 26 Diwali (Festival of Lights)
Sun Nov 6 Eid al-Adha (Day of Sacrifice)
Sat Nov 12 Birth of Baha’u’llah
Sat Nov 26 Al-Hijra (Islamic New Year)
Thur Dec 8 Bodhi Day (Enlightenment)
Sun Dec 25 Christmas
Spring 2012
Mon Feb 20 Shiva Ratri (Worship of Shiva)
Wed Mar 21 Naw-Ruz (Baha’I and Iranian New Year)
Sun Apr 1 Ramanavami (Birth of Rama)
Fri Apr 6 Good Friday
Sat –
Sat Apr 7-14 Passover
Sun Apr 8 Easter
Sat Apr 14 Baisakhi (Brotherhood-Sisterhood)
Sat Apr 21 First day of Ridvan (Declaration of Baha’u’llah)
Sat May 5 Wesak (in clebration of the Buddha)
Instructors must accept a student’s assertion of the need to be absent from class for religious reasons, but students are required to notify instructors in advance that they will miss class in order to observe a religious holiday. University policy and Massachusetts State law require faculty to offer make-up assignments or exams to students who are absent for religious observance. In the event of a dispute between a student and a faculty member, either party should contact the instructor’s department head.
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