Religious inclusion at SUNY Cortland

06/02/2022

Dear campus community,

Supporting our diverse multi-faith community is a key part of our SUNY Cortland’s campus culture. I ask the college community to respect students, faculty, and staff by facilitating a culture of understanding and civility for religious holidays.

Please make the appropriate accommodations to allow people to fully express their faith in accordance with NYS Education Law Section 224-A. Keep in mind that not all people within the same faith group practice their faith in the same manner and that how they express their faith may change over time.

A brief list of upcoming observances is included in this email. Please consult the religious holidays and observances page online for additional dates for the 2022-23 academic year. Consider these dates as you create syllabi and schedule major events, assignments, field trips and tests in your courses.

Observance	Faith or Religion	Dates	Common customs/Important considerations
Eid-al-Adha	Islam	Saturday, July 9	Typically this day is taken off to attend mosque and to spend time with loved ones.
Asalha Puja (Dharma Day)	Buddhism	Wednesday, July 13	Traditions include giving alms to the temple and listening to sermons.
Tisha B’av	Judaism	Sunday, Aug. 7	A fast day for the firstborn begins at sundown on Aug. 6.
Day of Ashura/Muharram	Islam	Monday, Aug. 8	Begins at sunset on Aug. 7 and ends at sunset on Aug. 8.
Rosh Hashanah	Judaism	Monday, Sept. 26, to Tuesday, Sept. 27	Begins at sunset on Sept. 25 and ends at sunset on Sept. 27.
Navratri	Hinduism	Monday, Sept. 26, to Wednesday, Oct. 5	Temples are decorated for devotees to come and offer their prayers. People may fast and abstain from drinking alcohol and consuming onion and garlic.
Yom Kippur	Judaism	Wednesday, Oct. 5	Begins at sunset on Oct. 4. A 25-hour fast is practiced by many.
Diwali or Deepavali	Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and Buddhism	Monday, Oct. 24	It is common to take the day off to spend time with loved ones.
All Saints Day	Christian	Tuesday, Nov. 1	Mass attendance is expected.
Feast of the Immaculate Conception	Christian	Thursday, Dec. 8	Mass attendance is expected.
Bodhi Day	Buddhism	Thursday, Dec. 8	Buddhists will often spend time meditating, praying and thinking about the Noble Eightfold Path and the Four Noble Truths.