Accommodating Religious Observance – Guidelines for Faculty
As a non-sectarian institution, Allegheny College affirms the variety of religions represented within our community and supports individual and group ritual practice. We urge flexibility and consideration of religious practice in both curricular and co-curricular planning, in order to create the “inclusive, respectful and safe residential learning community” to which our Statement of Community aspires.
College policy recognizes major religious holidays as legitimate reasons to miss class or to reschedule a final exam, and students should contact professors in advance. Faculty are encouraged to include a note in course syllabi, such as the following: “If you need to miss class or reschedule a final examination due to a religious observance, please speak to the professor well in advance to make arrangements.”
The dates for religious holy days that members of our community may be observing are listed below, with descriptions and suggested accommodations related to coursework, dietary restrictions, ritual practice, and exam schedules. For additional information, or with suggestions of other steps that can help foster respect for religious diversity in our community, please contact the Office of Spiritual, Religious, and Personal Wellness.
A complete religious calendar for the 2026-2027 academic year is also available.
Religious Calendar for 2026-2027
*Holiday begins the evening of the first date listed and ends the evening of the last date listed.
Major Holy Days
Please avoid scheduling exams, field trips, or other activities that would be difficult for students to make up, and accommodate students who miss class on these days. Faculty meetings and important
campus-wide events are also discouraged on these dates.
- Sept. 11-13*
Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) - Sept. 20*
Yom Kippur (Jewish Day of Atonement) - Dec. 25
Christmas (Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus) - Feb. 7-March 8*
Ramadan (Islamic month of fasting; Muslim students may request taking exams early in the day; suggested accommodations based on dietary restrictions are below) - March 8
Eid al-Fitr (Islamic celebration at the end of Ramadan) - March 28
Easter (Christian celebration of Christ’s resurrection, Western Christianity) - April 21-22*
First two days of Passover (Jewish week-long observance of the Exodus from Egypt) - May 2
Easter (Christian celebration of Christ’s resurrection, Eastern Orthodox) - May 16-17*
Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice; Islamic celebration at the end of the Hajj)
Religious Rituals
Participation in these rituals may affect attendance at classes or other campus events.
- Nov. 1: All Saints Day (Holy Day of Obligation for Catholics)
Required Mass, 6:30-7:30 pm - Dec. 8: Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Catholic observance of Mary’s conception)
No on-campus service this year, but students may attend services in Meadville. - Feb. 10: Ash Wednesday (Christian first day of Lent)
Christian students may attend services in Meadville. - March 26: Good Friday (Christian observance of Jesus’ death and burial)
Christian students may attend services in Meadville.
Dietary Accommodations
Jews do not eat pork or shellfish and do not eat meat and dairy in the same meal. Muslims also refrain from pork, as well as alcohol, and some require meat that is halal. Parkhurst is familiar with these dietary requirements and can accommodate them at catered events, given advance notice.
The following holy days involve dietary restrictions that have implications for events at which food is served. During times of fasting, please consider offering take-home exams or other alternatives that would allow students to engage in coursework during times of peak efficiency.
- Sept. 20-21*
Yom Kippur: Jews fast from sundown Sept. 20 until sundown Sept. 21. - Feb. 7-March 8
Ramadan: Muslims fast daily from food and drink from sunrise until sunset. - March 2-20
Nineteen Day Fast: A periof of fasting immediately before the Baha’i New Year, serving as spiritual preparation and renewal. - Feb. 10-March 25
Lent: Christians may fast from meat on Fridays or engage in other forms of fasting. - April 21-29*
Passover: Jews eat no leavened bread and may observe other dietary restrictions. (Please include Kosher for Passover options at any catered events this week.)
Additional Holy Days
Members of our community may be celebrating these holidays as individuals or with other members of their religious group.
In addition to minor holidays in religions that are well-represented on campus, we have also included major ritual days in under-represented religions. Please note that these holidays are as important for those involved as Yom Kippur is for Jews or Easter is for Christians. Those students should be accommodated if they need to miss class.
Work is suspended on the Baha’i holidays marked with #.
Holidays marked with * begin the evening of the first date listed and end the evening of the last date listed.
- July 9-10*#
Martyrdom of the Bab (Death of the herald of the Baha’i faith) - July 14-15
Ashura (Shi‘ite holy day commemorating the martyrdom of Husayn b. ‘Ali) - Aug. 1
Lughnasadh, or Lammas (Pagan celebration of the beginning of harvest) - Sept. 3
Krishna Janmashtami (Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Krishna) - Sept. 14*
Ganesh Chaturthi (Hindu festival celebrating Ganesha’s birthday) - Aug. 25*
Mawlid al-Nabi (Islamic observance of Prophet Muhammad’s birthday) - Sept. 22
Harvest, or Mabon (Pagan ritual of thanksgiving) - Oct. 11-20
Navratri (Hindu nine-day autumn festival) - Oct. 20
Dusserah, or Dasara (Hindu celebration of victories by several gods and goddesses) - Sept. 25-Oct.2*
Sukkot (Jewish week-long Festival of Booths) - Oct. 3*
Simchat Torah (Jewish celebration of the Torah) - Nov. 8
Diwali (Hindu Festival of Lights) - Oct. 31-Nov. 1
Samhain (Pagan festival honoring those who have died) - Nov. 10*#
Birth of the Bab (Herald of Baha’i faith) - Nov. 11*#
Birth of Baha’u’llah (Founder of Baha’i faith) - Nov. 24
Guru Nanak Jayanti (Sikh observance of founder’s birthday) - Nov. 24-Dec. 24
Advent (Christian season of preparation for Christmas) - Dec. 4-Dec. 12*
Hanukkah (Jewish eight-day Festival of Lights) - Dec. 21
Yule, or Winter Solstice (Pagan observance of the winter solstice) - Dec. 26-Jan. 1
Kwanzaa (African American cultural festival) - Jan. 6
Epiphany (Christian celebration of Jesus’ manifestation to Gentiles) - Jan. 7
Eastern Orthodox Christmas (Celebration of Jesus’ birth) - Jan. 22-23*
Tu B’Shvat (Jewish celebration of trees) - Feb. 1
Imbolc (Pagan celebration of the beginning of spring) - Feb 9
Shrove Tuesday (Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, celebration prior to Christian season of Lent) - Feb. 11
Saraswati Puja, or Vasant Panchami (Hindu springtime festival) - Feb. 15
Nirvana Day (Buddhists mark Buddha’s full achievement of Nirvana) - March 5-6
Laylat al-Qadr (Islamic night of prayer during Ramadan) - March 6-7
Maha Shivratri (Hindu festival honoring the god Shiva) - March 20
Ostara (Pagan festival at the spring equinox) - March 21
Palm Sunday (Christian observance of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem) - March 21-22*#
Naw-Rúz (Baha’i New Year) - March 22*
Purim (Jewish Feast of Lots) - March 22
Holi (Hindu Festival of Colors) - March 25
Maundy Thursday (Christian observance of Jesus’ last supper, Western Christianity) - March 26
Holy Friday (Eastern Orthodox) - Apr. 21-May 2*#
Festival of Ridvan (Baha’i founder Baha’u’llah proclaimed as God’s messenger)
Work suspended on day 1 (Apr. 21-22*), day 9 (Apr. 29-30*) and day 12 (May. 1-May 1*) - Apr. 12
Easter (Eastern Orthodox) - May 1
Beltane (Pagan celebration related to May Day, fertility) - May 3-4*
Yom Hashoah (Jewish day of Holocaust remembrance) - May 16
Pentecost (Christian celebration of Holy Spirit and birth of the church) - May 22-23*#
Declaration of the Bab (Herald of Baha’i faith) - May 28-29*#
Ascension of Baha’u’llah (Marks Baha’i founder’s death) - June 10-11*
Shavuot (Jewish commemoration of God’s gift of Torah at Sinai) - June 26
Midsummer, or Litha (Pagan holiday around the summer solstice)