Faculty and staff are reminded to take religious observances into account when planning events, meetings, programs, meals and travel.

“From the university’s founding, and exemplified in our beautiful Sage Chapel, religious diversity has always been part of Cornell’s commitment to diversity and inclusion,” said the Rev. Kenneth Clarke Sr., director of Cornell United Religious Work.

Cornell United Religious Work has posted a list of religious holidays for the 2014-15 academic year, along with such restrictions as fasting (with implications for event planning), limitations on working (absences from work should be reasonably accommodated) and other practices.

Widely observed holidays during the upcoming academic year and their potential workplace impacts include:

2014

• Rosh Hashanah** (Sept. 25-26 – absence)
• Eid al Adha* (Oct. 4 – absence, flex schedule)
• Yom Kippur** (Oct. 4 – absence, fasting)
• Diwali (Oct. 23 – absence, flex schedule)
• `Ashura* (Nov.  2  – fasting)

2015

• Ash Wednesday (Feb. 18 – flex schedule)
• Passover** (April 4-11 – offer matzoh as alternative to bread)
• Good Friday (April 3 – absence, fasting)
• Easter Sunday (April 5 – absence).

Examples of good planning for religious holidays and observances include:

• plan meetings and events for days other than widely observed religious holidays and avoid or modify banquets and other meal events during fasting times (e.g., Ramadan, Yom Kippur, Easter);
• allow flexible schedules to accommodate religious observances (see http://www.dfa.cornell.edu/dfa/treasurer/policyoffice/policies/volumes/…);
• allow use of vacation, unpaid, or health and personal leave to accommodate religious observances (see http://www.dfa.cornell.edu/dfa/treasurer/policyoffice/policies/volumes/…); and
• consult the religious accommodation process (http://www.hr.cornell.edu/policies/all/religious_accommodation.html) to resolve conflict between an employee’s request for religious observance (e.g., head covering or facial jewelry) and the business needs of the department. An FAQ on the religious accommodation process is at https://www.hr.cornell.edu/policies/all/religious_accommodation_faqs.html. Questions? Contact the Office of Workforce Policy and Labor Relations at 254-7232 or equalopportunity@cornell.edu.

For guidance on make-up examinations, study or work requirements due to students’ religious observances, see the Cornell University Faculty Handbook (p. 88) or consult with the Dean of Faculty.

For questions regarding religious observances on campus, contact Cornell United Religious Work at 607-255-4214 or see http://dos.cornell.edu/cornell-united-religious-work.

* Actual sightings of the crescent moon may mean these dates are one day earlier or one day later.

** All Jewish holidays begin at sundown the night before the date listed.