Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students,
At DePaul University, we welcome people of every faith and spiritual background as part of our Catholic and Vincentian mission to recognize and respect our multi-faith campus population.
As the 2026–27 academic year begins, we invite our faculty, staff, and students to celebrate fully within their own traditions while honoring the traditions of others. Recognizing and respecting community members’ religious celebrations strengthens the community and deepens the values that guide our work together.
Throughout the year, members of our community observe a wide range of religious traditions and celebrations.
- This fall, the Jewish High Holidays include Rosh Hashanah Sept. 11–13, Yom Kippur Sept. 20–21, and Sukkot Sept. 25–Oct. 2.
- Members of our Hindu community will celebrate Diwali on Nov. 8.
- Further in the year, the Muslim community will observe Ramadan, expected Feb. 7–March 8, followed by Eid al-Fitr, expected March 9–10, and Eid al-Adha later in the year, expected May 16–17.
- Christmas, Easter, and other religious observances celebrated across our community also provide important moments for reflection, celebration, and connection.
It is important to note that faculty, staff, and students may request a day off or may need to leave early to get home before sundown to observe a religious holy day or fulfill religious obligations. Please honor these requests when you are able, be flexible in your classrooms, and refer to Human Resources for more information on accommodations.
We also ask that you consider the following when planning your syllabus, exams, meetings, and events:- Avoid scheduling important or required activities on key religious dates.
- Provide appropriate flexibility for requests related to religious practice.
- Consider dietary needs when planning meetings and events—including kosher, halal, or vegetarian.
You may also review Mission and Ministry’s religious observance calendar for a more comprehensive list of religious holidays, including information about work-restricted holidays and accommodation considerations. Being mindful of these observances is one way we can put our Catholic, Vincentian values of respect and belonging into practice.
Thank you for helping create a safe space that considers our diverse, multi-faith community. We look forward to another successful year.
Sincerely,
Robert L. Manuel
President
Russell Ivy
Provost and Senior Vice President
Dania Matos
Senior Vice President, Belonging, Engagement and Mission
Kimberlie Goldsberry
Vice President, Belonging, Engagement and Mission
Mark Laboe
Interim Vice President, Mission and Ministry