Guidance to Students, Faculty, and Staff Regarding Conflicts between Academic and Religious Calendars
As an institution, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, does not observe religious holidays. We do, however, acknowledge the potential conflict between our academic calendar and the interfaith calendar and want to make every reasonable effort to help students, faculty, and staff avoid negative academic consequences when their religious obligations conflict with academic requirements.
Absence for religious reasons does not excuse students, faculty, or staff from responsibility for any part of academic or professional work required during the period of absence. Students will have a reasonable alternative opportunity to complete missed academic responsibilities. Faculty and staff will be responsible for work or hours missed during the period of absence.
Should disagreement arise over any aspect of this guidance statement, the parties involved should contact the department chair or dean of the college.
For more information about policies and procedures at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, please click on the following links:
This is not a complete list. Please visit the Interfaith Calendar for a complete list of religious holidays.
|
HOLIDAY |
FAITH |
DATE(S) |
| Paryushan ** | Jain | August 18 |
| Id al-Adha ** | Islam | September 1 |
| Rosh Hashanah * | Jewish | September 20 – 22 |
| 10th of Muharram ** | Islam | September 22 |
| Yom Kippur * | Jewish | September 29 – 30 |
| Sukkot * | Jewish | October 4 – 6 |
| Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah * | Jewish | October 11 – 13 |
| Diwali ** | Hindu | October 19 – 23 |
| Birthday of the Bab | Baha’I | October 20 |
| Birthday of Bahá’u’lláh | Baha’I | November 12 |
| Birth of the Prophet Muhammad ** | Islam | December 1 |
| Hanukkah | Jewish | December 12 – 20 |
| Christmas | Christian | December 25 |
| Kwanzaa | Interfaith / African-American | December 26 – January 1 |
| Feast of the Epiphany | Christian | January 6 |
| Eastern Orthodox Christmas (Julian Calendar) | Orthodox Christian | January 7 |
| Sankranti | Hindu | January 14 |
| Eastern Orthodox Beginning of Lent | Orthodox Christian | February 12 |
| Ash Wednesday | Christian | February 14 |
| Chinese New Year & Tet | Confucianism / Taoism / Buddhism | February 16 |
| Purim * | Jewish | February 28 – March 1 |
| Nowruz | Baha’I / Zoroastrianism | March 21 |
| Passover (Pesach) * | Jewish | March 30 – April 7 |
| Good Friday | Christian | March 30 |
| Easter | Christian | April 1 |
| Eastern Orthodox Good Friday | Orthodox Christian | April 6 |
| Eastern Orthodox Easter | Orthodox Christian | April 8 |
| Baisakhi | Sikh | April 14 |
| Ridvan | Baha’I | April 21 |
| 9th Day of Ridvan | Baha’I | April 29 |
| 12th Day of Ridvan | Baha’I | May 2 |
| Ascension Day | Christian | May 10 |
| Ramadan ** | Islam | May 15 – June 14 |
| Eastern Orthodox Ascension Day | Orthodox Christian | May 17 |
| Shavuot * | Jewish | May 19 – 21 |
| Declaration of the Bab | Baha’I | May 23 |
| Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh | Baha’I | May 29 |
| 23rd of Ramadan ** | Islam | June 7 |
| Id al-Fitr ** | Islam | June 15 |
| Martyrdom of the Bab | Baha’I | July 9 |
| Holy Day of ‘Arafah ** | Islam | August 21 |