UAlbany’s Academic Calendar Structure
UAlbany’s Academic Calendar exists to best serve the academic interests of the University and its students, ensuring our students have as much instructional contact with our faculty as possible.
It is also essential for financial aid disbursement, among other things, that each course meets the minimum instructional contact requirements outlined in federal, state and SUNY guidelines.
UAlbany's 15-week semesters pose enormous time constraints, which is why classes are not suspended on religious holidays that are not government holidays (such as Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Passover and Easter Monday).
In the past, suspending classes on religious holidays that weren’t government holidays made it increasingly challenging to create a calendar in which courses met instructional contact requirements; that allowed for a full, 20-day winter session; and that allowed sufficient time for grades, degrees, financial aid and other items to be properly processed before the spring semester.
Instead of suspending classes on these days, UAlbany has instituted a Fall Recess. This recess is predictable and, when combined with the Thanksgiving Recess, does not disproportionally impact a single day of the week. Fall Recess also provides students with a wellness break.
As structured, the current Academic Calendar ensures that classes have an equal 14 weeks of instruction, plus a week of final exams, and allow for the possibility of an unexpected cancellation while still staying within state, federal, and SUNY guidelines.
It also allows consistent, multi-year planning — which means students, families, faculty and staff are notified of major dates, such as Commencement, years in advance.
Religious Accommodations for Students
Every student has the right to pursue their education while practicing their faith.
New York State law requires campuses to excuse, without penalty, individual students’ absences due to religious beliefs and to provide equivalent opportunities for makeup exams, study or work requirements missed due to such absences.
To request a reasonable religious accommodation, contact your course instructor(s) directly and with sufficient time for them to make the accommodation. Instructors should work directly with students to accommodate religious observances.
Whenever possible, instructors should not schedule exams, presentations or major due dates on major religious holidays. When scheduling conflicts are unavoidable, instructors must give students the opportunity for an equivalent makeup. Makeup exams must be comparable to the scheduled exam.
If a class is held on a major religious holiday, instructors should post their lecture notes and other class materials on Brightspace. Contact CATLOE or ITS for assistance.
Students who encounter issues when requesting a reasonable religious accommodation should contact either the Office of Undergraduate Education or the Graduate School.
Religious Accommodations for Instructors
Instructors are responsible for meeting with their classes regularly and at scheduled times, according to the Academic Calendar. In the event of illness or an emergency, you must notify your department, school or college so suitable action can be taken.
Professional and classified staff are required to charge accruals for absences due to religious observance.
If you’ll be absent during a regular workday for religious observance or for professional reasons (such as attending a conference) while classes are in session, you must inform your department chair or dean in advance.
Classes cannot be canceled if you will be absent due to religious observation or professional reasons.
Instead, you must find a replacement instructor or present an alternative instructional plan (such as providing timed assignments in Brightspace, having a colleague monitor a guest speaker, providing a take-home exam or assignment, etc.)
Alternative instructional plans must be approved in advance by your department chair or dean.
Major Religious Holidays
The following are upcoming major religious observances practiced by our students, faculty and staff.
Note: This is not an exhaustive list. Students, faculty and staff participate in other religious holidays and observances that are not listed here.
holidays
July 2023
|
Holiday/Observance |
Faith(s) |
Date(s) |
|---|---|---|
|
Asalha Puja Day |
Buddhist |
July 3, 2023 |
|
Tisha B'Av |
Jewish |
July 27, 2023 |
August 2023
|
Holiday/Observance |
Faith(s) |
Date(s) |
|---|---|---|
|
Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary |
Christian |
August 15, 2023 |
September 2023
|
Holiday/Observance |
Faith(s) |
Date(s) |
|---|---|---|
|
Rosh Hashanah |
Jewish |
September 16, 2023 |
|
Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) |
Jewish |
September 25, 2023 |
|
Mawlid-al-Nabi |
Islamic |
September 26 to 27, 2023 |
|
Sukkot |
Jewish |
September 30 to October 6, 2023 |
October 2023
|
Holiday/Observance |
Faith(s) |
Date(s) |
|---|---|---|
|
Sukkot |
Jewish |
September 30 to October 6, 2023 |
|
Shemini Atzeret / Simchat Torah |
Jewish |
October 7 to 8, 2023 |
|
Navaratri |
Hindu |
October 15 to 24, 2023 |
November 2023
|
Holiday/Observance |
Faith(s) |
Date(s) |
|---|---|---|
|
All Saints Day |
Christian |
November 1, 2023 |
|
All Souls Day |
Christian, Roman Catholic |
November 2, 2023 |
|
Diwali |
Hindu, Sikh |
November 12, 2023 |
December 2023
|
Holiday/Observance |
Faith(s) |
Date(s) |
|---|---|---|
|
Feast of the Immaculate Conception |
Christian |
December 8, 2023 |
|
Hanukkah |
Jewish |
December 8 to 15, 2023 |
|
Christmas |
Christian |
December 25, 2023 |
|
Nativity of Christ |
Orthodox Christian |
December 25, 2023 |
|
Kwanzaa |
African |
December 26, 2023 |
January 2024
|
Holiday/Observance |
Faith(s) |
Date(s) |
|---|---|---|
|
Feast of the Epiphany |
Christian |
January 6, 2024 |
|
Mahayana New Year |
Buddhist |
January 25, 2024 |
|
Tu BiShvat |
Jewish |
January 25, 2024 |
February 2024
|
Holiday/Observance |
Faith(s) |
Date(s) |
|---|---|---|
|
Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple |
Orthodox Christian, Roman Catholic |
February 2, 2024 |
|
Lailat al-Mi’raj |
Islamic |
February 7, 2024 |
|
Chinese New Year |
Buddhist, Confucian, Taoist |
February 10, 2024 |
|
Shrove Tuesday |
Christian, Protestant |
February 13, 2024 |
|
Mardi Gras |
Christian, Roman Catholic |
February 13, 2024 |
|
Vasant Panchami |
Hindu |
February 14, 2024 |
|
Ash Wednesday |
Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant |
February 14, 2024 |
|
Nirvana Day |
Buddhist, Hindu |
February 15, 2024 |
|
Magha Puja Day |
Buddhist |
February 24, 2024 |
|
Lailat al-Bara’ah |
Islamic |
February 24 to 25, 2024 |
March 2024
|
Holiday/Observance |
Faith(s) |
Date(s) |
|---|---|---|
|
Maha Shivaratri |
Hindu |
March 8, 2024 |
|
Ramadan |
Islamic |
March 10 to April 8, 2024 |
|
Great Lent |
Orthodox Christian |
March 18 to April 15, 2024 |
|
Purim |
Jewish |
March 23 to 24, 2024 |
|
Sunday of Orthodoxy |
Orthodox Christian |
March 24, 2024 |
|
Palm Sunday |
Christian, Orthodox Christian, Protestant, Roman Catholic |
March 24, 2024 |
|
Feast of the Annunciation |
Orthodox Christian, Roman Catholic |
March 25, 2024 |
|
Holi |
Hindu |
March 25, 2024 |
|
Maundy Thursday |
Christian, Protestant |
March 28, 2024 |
|
Holy Thursday |
Christian, Roman Catholic |
March 28, 2024 |
|
Good Friday |
Christian, Protestant, Roman Catholic |
March 29, 2024 |
|
Holy Saturday / Easter Vigil |
Christian, Protestant, Roman Catholic |
March 30, 2024 |
|
Easter Sunday |
Christian, Protestant, Roman Catholic |
March 31, 2024 |
April 2024
|
Holiday/Observance |
Faith(s) |
Date(s) |
|---|---|---|
|
Ramadan |
Islamic |
March 10 to April 8, 2024 |
|
Great Lent |
Orthodox Christian |
March 18 to April 15, 2024 |
|
Hindu New Year |
Hindu |
April 2, 2024 |
|
Eid al-Fitr |
Islamic |
April 9 to 10, 2024 |
|
Rama Navami |
Hindu |
April 17, 2024 |
|
Passover |
Jewish |
April 22 to 29, 2024 |
|
Hanuman Jayanti |
Hindu |
April 23, 2024 |
|
Theravada New Year |
Buddhist |
April 24, 2024 |
|
Visakha Puja Day / Buddha Day |
Buddhist |
April 24 to May 23, 2024 |
|
Palm Sunday |
Orthodox Christian |
April 28, 2024 |
May 2024
|
Holiday/Observance |
Faith(s) |
Date(s) |
|---|---|---|
|
Visakha Puja Day / Buddha Day |
Buddhist |
April 24 to May 23, 2024 |
|
Great and Holy Thursday |
Orthodox Christian |
May 2, 2024 |
|
Great and Holy Friday |
Orthodox Christian |
May 3, 2024 |
|
Pascha / Orthodox Easter |
Orthodox Christian |
May 5, 2024 |
|
Yom HaShoah |
Jewish |
May 5 to 6, 2024 |
|
Ascension Thursday |
Christian, Protestant, Roman Catholic |
May 9, 2024 |
|
Pentecost |
Christian, Protestant, Roman Catholic |
May 19, 2024 |
|
Corpus Christi |
Christian |
May 30, 2024 |
June 2024
|
Holiday/Observance |
Faith(s) |
Date(s) |
|---|---|---|
|
Shavuot |
Jewish |
June 11 to 13, 2024 |
|
Ascension Thursday |
Orthodox Christian |
June 13, 2024 |
|
Eid al-Adha |
Islamic |
June 16 to 17, 2024 |
|
Pentecost |
Orthodox Christian |
June 24, 2024 |
July 2024
|
Holiday/Observance |
Faith(s) |
Date(s) |
|---|---|---|
|
Asalha Puja Day |
Buddhist |
July 21, 2024 |
August 2024
|
Holiday/Observance |
Faith(s) |
Date(s) |
|---|---|---|
|
Tisha B’Av |
Jewish |
August 12 to 13, 2024 |