Religious Observances
UW–Madison’s religious observances policy relates to academic instruction and is meant to be sensitive to the needs of individual students.
Religious Observances
State law mandates that any student with a conflict between an academic requirement and any religious observance (which may include travel time) must be given an alternative for meeting the academic requirement.
With this in mind, instructors should follow these guidelines:
- When feasible, avoid scheduling examinations, required presentations, field experiences, mandatory discussion activities or other significant course requirements on major religious observance dates. You can use the calendar of the most represented religions at UW–Madison below to assist in your planning. You can also add religious observances to your Outlook calendar.
- Include the policy in your syllabus and announce it to your students at the start of the semester. Remind students that they are responsible for notifying instructors of anticipated religious observance conflicts within the first two weeks of the class whenever possible and are responsible for completing course requirements.
- Instructors should accept students’ request at face value and should not require documentation, proof of religious affiliation, verification from a religious leader, or additional justification regarding a student’s beliefs or practices.
- It may not always be possible to avoid overlap between examinations, course activities or assignments and religious observances. Plan in advance for how to offer alternative means of completing course requirements.
- Student complaints should be directed to the Office of Student Assistance and Support using this form.
Putting policy into practice – The attachment has further explanation and guidance on putting these policy requirements into practice.
Religious Observances for Academic Instruction
Fall 2026 Semester
View the full memo here.
| Faculty contract year begins | 17 August (Mon) |
| Milad un Nabi (Islam) | 25 August (Wed)*** |
| Last day to cancel Fall enrollment and have no Fall transcript record | 1 September (Tue) |
| Instruction begins | 2 September (Wed) |
| Labor Day | 7 September (Mon) |
| Paryushana Parva (Jainism) | 8-15 September (Tue-Tue) |
| Last day to withdraw for the Fall term or drop a Fall course and have no record of it on transcript | 9 September (Wed) |
| Last day for 100% tuition adjustment on dropped class | 11 September (Fri) |
| Rosh Hashanah (Jewish) | 12-13 September (Sat-Sun)* |
| Yom Kippur (Jewish) | 21 September (Mon)* |
| Mabon (Pagan/Wiccan) | 23 September (Wed) |
| Sukkot (Jewish) | 26 September-2 October (Sat-Fri)* |
| Shemini Atzeret (Jewish) | 3 October (Sat)* |
| Simchat Torah (Jewish) | 4 October (Sun)* |
| Navaratri (Hindu) | 11-19 October (Sun-Mon) |
| Dussehra (Hindu) | 20 October (Tue) |
| Birth of Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh) | 20 October (Tue) |
| Samhain (Multiple) | 1 November (Sun)** |
| All Saints’ Day (Christian) | 1 November (Sun) |
| Election Day | 3 November (Tues) |
| Diwali (Multiple) | 8 November (Sun) |
| Enrollment for Spring term begins | 9 November (Mon) |
| Birthday of the Báb (Bahá’í) | 10 November (Tue)* |
| Birthday of Baha’u’llah (Bahá’í) | 11 November (Wed)* |
| Last day to withdraw from Fall term (undergraduate students) | 23 November (Mon) |
| Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur (Sikh) | 24 November (Tue) |
| Day of Convenant (Bahá’í) | 26 November (Thu)* |
| Thanksgiving recess | 26-29 November (Thu-Sun) |
| Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (Bahá’í) | 28 November (Sat)* |
| Hanukkah (Jewish) | 5-12 December (Sat-Sat)* |
| Bodhi Day (Buddhist) | 8 December (Tue) |
| Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Christian) | 8 December (Tue) |
| Last day to withdraw from Fall term (graduate students) | 9 December (Wed) |
| Last class day | 9 December (Wed) |
| Study day | 10 December (Thu) |
| Exam (summary) period | 11-17 December (Fri-Thu) |
| Commencement (no exams) | 13 December (Sun)**** |
* Observances of Jewish and Bahá’í holidays begin at sunset on the day preceding that which is listed as the holiday.
** Begins at sunset the previous day.
*** Observances of Islamic holidays begin at sunset on the day preceding that which is listed as the holiday. The precise date of Islamic holidays may differ by one day before or after, depending on moon sighting practices.
**** The official date of degree conferral on the diploma will be 20 December 2026.
For future dates, please refer to online resources, such as the UW-Parkside Multifaith Religious and Spiritual Tradition Calendar.