February 29, 2024

Dear Colleagues:

Every fall and spring we share a reminder of the CSU Policy: Religious Holidays & Observances for accommodating students without penalty when faith-based and religious holidays and observances may conflict with scheduled academic activities.

Several observances that could impact a significant number of students this spring include Ramadan, Good Friday, and Passover for which the dates are listed below. Some students may request your consideration and support around course attendance, projects or exams to allow them to participate in increased worship.

Ramadan
The Islamic holy month of Ramadan begins following the sighting of the moon over Mecca. It is expected this year to begin at sunset on Sunday, March 10, and continue through Tuesday, April 9. The 30 days of fasting, prayer, and reflection ends with the celebratory days of Eid al-Fitr starting at sundown on Wednesday, April 10. Additionally, a Ramadan Iftar dinner celebration will be held March 22, in the Lory Student Center Grand Ballroom. The event is open to all in the CSU community, but an RSVP is required to attend. For more information, please see: Ramadan Iftar.

Good Friday
The Christian holiday of Good Friday is March 29 this year and occurs during the Christian Holy Week. Holy Week is the sixth and last week of Lent, beginning with Palm Sunday, March 24, and concluding on Holy Saturday followed by Easter Sunday, March 31.

Passover
The Jewish holiday of Pesach or Passover begins at sunset on Monday, April 22, and concludes after nightfall on Tuesday, April 30. Each year a Community Passover Seder is hosted at CSU in the Lory Student Center. The dinner and celebration this year will be held on April 22, in the Main Ballroom. It is open to all in the CSU community. To attend, please RSVP at: Community Passover Seder.

Faith, Belief and Religious Observances Calendar

CSU has created a calendar for Faith, Belief and Religious Observances which shares a wide diversity of holidays. The calendar serves as a resource to improve faith and belief-based literacy for our community about potential holidays celebrated by our students, faculty and staff. Affirming religious identity and accommodating participation in faith-based observances are important to our commitment to diversity at CSU, and it allows us to recognize and celebrate our cultural differences.

VPSA Religious Accommodation Request Form

Some students may not feel comfortable contacting faculty directly to request accommodations for faith or religious observances. The Vice President for Student Affairs Office has an online Request for Class Absences Related to Faith, Belief, and/or Religious Observance for students. Please encourage your students to use this form for anticipated class absences due to a religious holiday or observance. VPSA will then verify the holiday and notify faculty of whether or not a student’s request requires accommodations.

Thank you for your continued support of our students, and for helping to create an atmosphere of inclusion in response to personal religions, faiths, and observances.

Sincerely,

Marion K. Underwood
Provost and Executive Vice President

Sue James
Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs

Kauline Cipriani
Vice President for Inclusive Excellence