Celebrations
UC Irvine has a strong commitment to equal opportunity, diversity, and inclusiveness. Our university is enriched by the broad representation of cultural and religious beliefs, practices, and observances that our students, staff, faculty, and patients bring to the campus and medical center.
University departments and administrators are expected to be inclusive and sensitive to the cultural and religious practices and celebrations of their employees, students, and constituents. When scheduling events throughout the year, consider consulting the following calendars of religious and cultural observances:
The following guidelines are provided to aid units in planning inclusive celebrations, whether they are taking place in person or virtually.
- Focus on celebrating a special occasion, instead of a specific holiday. Consider having a "Year-End Celebration" or celebrating seasonal themes such as Fall, Winter, or Spring.
- Ensure that office celebrations are not indirectly celebrating religious holidays.
- Clarify that all celebrations are voluntary. Individuals who decide not to participate in the celebrations should not be viewed negatively or penalized.
- Display diverse symbols representing a variety of faith traditions along with secular ones.
- Avoid decorations or virtual backgrounds that are inconsistent with the university's commitment to diversity and inclusiveness.
- Consult with group members before providing food in order to accommodate dietary restrictions to the extent feasible.
- Refrain from promoting religion in the workplace or supporting one religion over another.
- Consider universal design in planning the location and activities, in-person or virtual, to accommodate different abilities.
- Be inclusive and flexible with the needs of different employees, including those with children or caring for parents.
If you have questions regarding the above information or any other diversity-related issues, please contact the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity (OEOD) at 949-824-5594 or oeod@uci.edu.
Additional Resources
- Religious Accommodation of Students for Tests and Examinations
- Absence from Work Policy – Special or Religious Holiday (PPSM 2.210, Section III-H.2)
- Collective Bargaining Agreements – Check current agreement for Article on Holidays and sub-article on Special/Religious Holiday(s) or Observance(s).
- Considerations for Inclusive Holidays and Observances
- Design Inclusive Meetings
- Holiday Celebrations in the Spirit of Inclusion
- How to Appreciate Diversity During the Holidays
- How to Celebrate Your Team's Diversity During the Holiday Season
- How to Make Holiday Celebrations More Inclusive
- Ideas for Planning an Inclusive Office Holiday Party
Please send additional suggested sites to oeod@uci.edu.