New York’s Public University System Adds 4 New Official Religious Holidays
NEW YORK — Students who attend the City University of New York, the country’s fourth-largest public university system, will get four new religious holidays off starting in 2025.
Following a vote on Tuesday night by the university’s board of trustees, CUNY Chancellor Felix Matos Rodríguez announced that the university system will become one of the first in the nation to designate Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Lunar New Year and Diwali as holidays on the school calendar.
Colleges across the country are facing increased pressure to acknowledge non-Christian faiths as well as adopt more accessible policies regarding attendance for students who hail from non-Western nations where Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism are widely practiced.
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CUNY said the change will start in the spring 2025 semester by not hold classes on Jan. 29 of that year in honor of Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival.
Classes will also not be held on March 31, 2025, for Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting and reflection. The same will be the case on June 5, 2025, for Eid al-Adha, known as the Feast of Sacrifice, which falls during the summer session, or on Oct. 20, 2025, for Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights.
“As one of the largest and most diverse public universities in the country, CUNY has a responsibility to represent and reflect its diverse religions and cultures,” Matos Rodríguez said. “Students who observe Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Lunar New Year or Diwali will be able to honor those traditions without worrying about their schoolwork. I’m proud to see CUNY advance our commitment to inclusivity.”
CUNY board of trustees Chairman William Thompson added, “For an institution like ours, whose students observe many faiths and mirror the great diversity of our city, we are pleased to assure them the freedom and flexibility to celebrate with their families and communities during these important days of observance.”
CUNY is the fourth-largest university system in the United States by enrollment, behind the California State University, the State University of New York and the University of California.
CUNY is the nation’s largest urban public university system. More than 271,000 students are enrolled at CUNY, which has one of the most diverse student bodies in the country.
The decision brings CUNY in alignment with New York State law and New York City Public Schools.
CUNY is already closed for federal holidays such as Christmas. In addition, CUNY’s 25 colleges do not hold classes on the Jewish holidays of Passover, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations hailed the decision.
“We welcome CUNY’s recognition of these holidays as a step toward respecting diversity on campus,” said CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher. “We also hope that this move for diversity, equity and inclusion encompasses freedom of speech and expression by students and teachers alike on CUNY campuses, especially with regard to Pro-Palestine solidarity. We remind CUNY presidents that embracing diversity is not just about holidays, but also about converging viewpoints that come with a diverse student population and faculty.”
Clemente Lisi is the executive editor of Religion Unplugged. He previously served as deputy head of news at the New York Daily News and a longtime reporter at The New York Post. Follow him on X @ClementeLisi.