To the UConn Community:
The Office for Inclusion and Civil Rights (OICR) and the Provost’s Office would like to remind you of several celebrations, commemorations, and moments of raising awareness for members of our community during the month of April:
Heritage Month Celebrations:
Arab American Heritage Month: Every April, cultural institutions, schools, legislatures, and organizations across the country formally recognize the achievements of Arab Americans. More than 3.7 million Americans trace their roots to 22 Arab countries across the Middle East and North Africa, representing diverse faiths, races, and languages. The Arab America Foundation established Arab American Heritage Month in 2017 to honor the rich cultural heritage and significant contributions of Arab Americans to U.S. society. Since then, 45 states have issued official proclamations recognizing the observance, and in 2021, President Biden became the first U.S. president to publicly acknowledge and celebrate Arab American Heritage Month.
Asian American Heritage Month: Every April, UConn commemorates Asian American Heritage Month — observed nationally in May — to honor the contributions of Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities to our country, our state, and our university. This celebration is especially meaningful given the rise in identity-based harassment and violence that AAPI communities have faced since the COVID-19 pandemic. These acts of racially motivated violence and harassment have negatively impacted the living, learning, and working conditions of AAPI community members and, by extension, all members of our community. UConn's Asian American Cultural Center (AsACC) supports AAPI students year-round through programming, community building, and cultural education. Follow AsACC on Instagram for upcoming events commemorating this important month!
Celebrate Diversity Month: Celebrate Diversity Month is observed each April to recognize and honor the diversity that surrounds us in all its forms. Established in 2004, the month encourages individuals, organizations, and communities to embrace both the differences and similarities that make up our society. It is a time to deepen understanding of one another, foster inclusion, and celebrate the wide range of backgrounds, identities, cultures, and perspectives that strengthen our communities.
Scottish American Heritage Month: Scottish American Heritage Month is celebrated each April to honor the rich history, culture, and contributions of Scottish immigrants and their descendants in the United States. An estimated 20 to 25 million Americans claim Scottish descent today. Scottish Americans have made lasting contributions across every facet of American life, from the founding of the nation to advances in science, education, industry, and the arts. The month also includes National Tartan Day on April 6, which commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320 and celebrates the enduring bonds between Scotland and America.
Awareness Month/Week Celebrations:
Autism Acceptance Month: UConn recognizes Autism Acceptance Month each April. Autistic* people make up a significant segment of the population, with 1 in 44 children diagnosed with autism and over 7 million Americans from all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds on the autism spectrum. Formerly known as Autism Awareness Month, the name was changed to "Acceptance" to move away from stigmatizing language and toward building welcoming environments where the community's needs for inclusion, connection, and support are met.
On April 2, World Autism Awareness Day highlights the need to improve the quality of life for autistic* people around the world. The 2026 observance, themed "Advancing Neurodiversity and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)," explores the intersection between neurodiversity and global sustainability, showcasing how inclusive policies and practices can drive positive change for autistic individuals and contribute to achieving the SDGs.
Autism usually manifests during early childhood and presents on a spectrum of behaviors and abilities. The autism spectrum refers to a range of neurological variations that may present as challenges related to social interactions, communication, and sensory processing. Recent research has also found autism to be associated with strengths such as pattern identification, systems thinking, and attention to detail.
UConn is committed to ensuring that individuals with autism and those with other forms of neurodivergence have equal access to programs, opportunities, and activities. This work is supported through the Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Education, Research, and Service (UCEDD), part of the nationwide Developmental Disabilities Network, as well as Neurodiversity at UConn, Civil and Environmental Engineering's Research Experience for Neurodiverse Students, and the Center for Neurodiversity and Employee Innovation.
The Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) offers programs and services for students with disabilities at all campuses, including UConn Health. Through MyAccess, students can request accommodations, and faculty and staff can coordinate to meet those needs efficiently. Students can also get involved with Diversability, a group dedicated to creating spaces to discuss ability, disability, access, and inclusion. Faculty and staff can request OICR’s training to deepen awareness of disability access and responsibilities. UConn also ensures reasonable accommodations for employees through OICR, Human Resources, and UConn Health’s Human Resources, and offers a Certificate of Interdisciplinary Disability Studies in Public Health.
*Language preferences vary among individuals on the autism spectrum. It is important to ask about and use the language each individual prefers. Identity-first language is used here to affirm the understanding of autism as an integral part of identity, as used and encouraged by many in the autistic community. Read more about identity-first language here.
National Alcohol Awareness Month: In 1987, the National Council for Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) established April as National Alcohol Awareness Month. The month raises awareness about one of the nation's largest public health issues, works to reduce the social stigma associated with alcoholism, educates communities about causes and available treatments, and offers guidance for those struggling with alcohol use or dependency.
At UConn, we work to ensure that substance use is not a barrier to academic, personal, or professional success. Resources are available through Student Health and Wellness’s (SHaW) Alcohol and Substance Use Support, and UConn’s Recovery Community Center — offering support, trainings, and community for those on their recovery journey or for those looking to support others. This April, we remind you that no one is alone on their journey through recovery. While every path is different, we are all in this together.
National Deaf History Month: Introduced in 1997 by the National Association of the Deaf, National Deaf History Month celebrates the accomplishments of Deaf* and Hard-of-Hearing people while raising awareness and appreciation of Deaf culture, history, and American Sign Language. Originally observed in March to coincide with the opening of the first public school for the Deaf, the commemoration was moved to April to more fully include the experiences of BIPOC Deaf people.
*Language preferences vary among members of the Deaf community, and it is important to ask about and use the language each individual prefers. Identity-first language is used here to reflect the way many consider being Deaf or Hard of Hearing as an integral part of their identity and community. To learn more, consult the National Association of the Deaf Community and Culture FAQ article, as well as the style guide from the National Center on Journalism and Disability.
National Public Health Week (April 6–12): National Public Health Week is observed every year during the first full week of April, led by the American Public Health Association (APHA) since 1955. The week highlights the work of public health professionals and advocates for policies that promote health equity and well-being for all communities. The 2026 theme, "Ready. Set. Action!," calls on individuals, communities, and government partners to take meaningful steps to strengthen the systems, science, and partnerships that protect public health. A reminder that good health doesn't just happen. It is built through coordinated efforts across sectors, from clean water and disease prevention to equitable access to care and safe communities.
At UConn, the Department of Public Health Sciences at UConn Health and the Master of Public Health (MPH) program advance health equity through research, community-engaged practice, and the training of future public health leaders. UConn Health also offers a Certificate in Social Determinants of Health and Disparities for students pursuing careers at the intersection of health care and population health. Learn more and find ways to get involved on the National Public Health Week website.
Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month: Every April, UConn renews its commitment to eliminating sexual violence on our campuses, in our state, and across the country. Sexual assault, harassment, violence, and abuse can happen anywhere. In the United States, nearly 1 in 5 women experience rape or attempted rape. Sexual violence disproportionately impacts women of color, Native and Indigenous women, immigrant women, LGBTQIA+ women, and disabled women. People under the age of 30, especially college-aged individuals, face the highest rates of sexual assault, including 21% of transgender or non-binary students, 18% of female students, and 4% of male students. Ending sexual violence requires care and commitment from all of us.
The Women's Center is committed to raising awareness about sexual violence prevention and supporting survivors year-round through the Violence Against Women Prevention Program. The Dean of Students Office can assist with supportive measures for students, including academic concerns and schedule modifications.
The University’s Title IX team within OICR focuses on addressing issues of sexual violence through proactive prevention efforts and ensuring appropriate response to reports of sexual harassment and related interpersonal violence. OICR serves the entire University community at the Storrs and Regional campuses, as well as UConn Health. Information about how to find help, make a report, and offer support to others is available at titleix.uconn.edu.
Individuals who have experienced harm are encouraged to report incidents through inform.uconn.edu or contact the Title IX team at titleix@uconn.edu to be connected with information and resources. Additionally, most University faculty and staff are responsible for sharing information with OICR when they receive a disclosure of sexual violence. This is to ensure that impacted individuals receive timely and accurate information about support resources and investigative options. Confidential Employees (such as medical care providers, mental health care providers, and the Employee Assistance Program) and Designated Confidential Employees can provide support and information without reporting to OICR (unless someone is in imminent risk of serious harm or a minor). Designated Confidential Employees include the Director of Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives within OICR, as well as professional staff in the University’s Women’s Center, African American Cultural Center, Asian American Cultural Center, Puerto Rican and Latin American Cultural Center, Rainbow Center, Ombuds Office, and Student Health and Wellness Health Promotion.
The Title IX team coordinates with colleagues across the University to provide supportive measures and assistance to members of the University community. Information about University resources, as well as confidential community-based resources, can be found at titleix.uconn.edu. Individuals do not have to make a formal complaint or participate in an investigation to receive assistance and support. Support is available for those who have had recent and/or past experiences, are involved in a University process, or are indirectly impacted.
Cultural and Federal Holidays:
Assyrian New Year / Kha b'Nissan (April 1): Kha b'Nissan, meaning "First of Nisan," marks the Assyrian, Chaldean, and Syriac New Year, celebrated annually on April 1. It is one of the oldest continuously observed new year traditions in the world, with roots stretching back thousands of years to ancient Mesopotamia. The holiday celebrates the arrival of spring, renewal, and cultural heritage. Communities mark the day with parades, traditional music and dance, festive meals, and gatherings that honor the rich history of the Assyrian people.
Earth Day (April 22): Earth Day marks the anniversary of the founding of the modern environmental movement in 1970. Growing public concern about the environment, fueled in part by Rachel Carson's 1962 book Silent Spring, which raised awareness about the impacts of pollution, culminated in action after the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill. Senator Gaylord Nelson, along with activist Denis Hayes, organized the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, drawing 20 million Americans into the streets. The movement led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the passage of landmark environmental protection laws. Today, Earth Day mobilizes over one billion people in 193 countries each year.
The 2026 Earth Day theme is "Our Power, Our Planet," affirming that environmental progress is driven by the everyday actions of communities, educators, workers, and families. The theme challenges individuals to recognize the power they hold through daily choices, from energy use and consumption habits to civic engagement, and to turn that power into lasting, meaningful change.
At UConn, we celebrate Earth Day through Spring Fling, an annual celebration of sustainability co-sponsored by the Office of Sustainability and the Department of Dining Services.
Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day (April 24): Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day is observed annually on April 24 to honor the memory of the estimated 1.5 million Armenians who perished during the Armenian Genocide carried out by the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1923. The date marks the anniversary of April 24, 1915, when Ottoman authorities arrested and deported hundreds of Armenian intellectuals and community leaders in Constantinople, an event widely regarded as the beginning of the genocide. In 2021, President Biden became the first U.S. president to formally recognize the events as a genocide. Armenian communities around the world observe the day through memorial services, candlelight vigils, and community ceremonies. Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day affirms the importance of preserving memory, bearing witness to history, and upholding the dignity of every human life.
Religious Holidays:
Hanuman Jayanti (April 1–2): Hanuman Jayanti is a Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Lord Hanuman, one of the most revered deities in Hindu tradition. Known as a symbol of strength, courage, devotion, and selfless service, Lord Hanuman is celebrated for his unwavering loyalty to Lord Rama as told in the epic Ramayana. The festival falls on Chaitra Purnima (the full moon day of the Chaitra month) and is observed with temple visits, recitations of the Hanuman Chalisa, fasting, and offerings of sindoor, flowers, and sweets.
Passover (April 1 – April 9): Passover, also known as Pesach, is one of the three Pilgrimage Festivals in Judaism and commemorates the Israelites’ journey from bondage to freedom as told in the Book of Exodus. It is a celebration of hope, resilience, and the enduring human desire for dignity and liberation. Jewish communities around the world observe the holiday by hosting seder meals, ceremonial dinners that include symbolic foods, prayers, songs, and the retelling of the Exodus story through the Haggadah.
Maundy Thursday (April 2): This day is observed on the Thursday before Easter in the Christian liturgical calendar. According to Christian tradition, it marks the day Jesus shared his final meal, the Last Supper, with his disciples before being betrayed and handed over to the Roman authorities. The term “Maundy” comes from the Latin word Mandatum, meaning “commandment,” referring to the new commandment Jesus gave his disciples on that evening: to love one another as he had loved them. Many churches mark the day with special communion services and foot-washing ceremonies.
The Memorial of Jesus’ Death (April 2): This day is observed by Jehovah's Witnesses to commemorate Jesus' death, following his command to "keep doing this in remembrance of me".
Good Friday (April 3): Good Friday is observed on the Friday before Easter and is one of the most solemn days in the Christian liturgical calendar. It commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. Churches across Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox traditions mark the day with prayer services, scripture readings, and periods of reflection, often observed between noon and 3 p.m., the hours traditionally associated with Christ’s suffering on the cross.
Holy Saturday (April 4): This is a day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday in the Christian liturgical calendar. Holy Saturday is a day of quiet reflection and waiting, traditionally marked by a somber mood as Christians meditate on Christ's death and burial while anticipating his resurrection. In many traditions, the day culminates in the Easter Vigil, a nighttime service featuring the lighting of the Paschal candle, scripture readings tracing salvation history, and the celebration of baptisms and the first Eucharist of Easter.
Easter (April 5): A significant celebration in the Christian faith, Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. It is preceded by Holy Week, between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, which includes Good Friday. This year, both Eastern Orthodox and Western Churches will celebrate Easter on the same date despite using different calendars, a rare convergence. Festivities typically include a special church service, music, flowers, and ringing of church bells, and gatherings with family and community.
Easter Monday (April 6): Easter Monday is the Monday following Easter Sunday and continues the celebration of Christ’s resurrection. It is observed as a public holiday in many countries across both Western and Eastern Christian traditions. In some cultures, Easter Monday is marked with family gatherings, outdoor activities, and community events extending the joy of the Easter celebration.
Yom HaShoah (April 13 – April 14): Yom HaShoah, also known as Holocaust Remembrance Day, is a solemn day dedicated to honoring the memory of the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust during World War II. The word Shoah means “catastrophe” or “utter destruction” in Hebrew. Beginning at sundown on April 13 and ending at nightfall on April 14, the day is observed through synagogue services, community ceremonies, candle-lighting, survivor testimonies, and moments of silence. Yom HaShoah affirms the importance of preserving memory, bearing witness, and upholding the dignity of every human life.
Theravada New Year (April 13–15): The Theravada New Year is celebrated for three days beginning on the first full moon in April and marks the start of the new year in the Theravada Buddhist tradition. Primarily observed in Southeast Asian countries including Thailand (where it is known as Songkran), Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Sri Lanka, the festival is a time of spiritual renewal, reflection, and merit-making. Water plays a central symbolic role, representing purification and the washing away of the previous year's difficulties. Communities celebrate with temple visits, offerings, meditation, acts of generosity, and joyous water rituals that welcome fresh beginnings.
Vaisakhi (April 14): Vaisakhi, also known as Baisakhi, is a significant festival that marks the beginning of the solar new year, the spring harvest season, and holds profound religious significance for the Sikh community. On Vaisakhi in 1699, Guru Gobind Singh Ji established the Khalsa, the collective body of initiated Sikhs, making it one of the most important dates in Sikh history. The day is celebrated with visits to gurdwaras (Sikh temples), community prayers, festive processions called Nagar Kirtans, feasting, and traditional dancing.
Akshaya Tritiya (April 19): Akshaya Tritiya is considered one of the most auspicious days in the Hindu calendar. The word Akshaya means "never diminishing" in Sanskrit, signifying eternal growth, prosperity, and good fortune. It is believed that any positive action undertaken on this day, whether charitable giving, spiritual practice, or new ventures, brings lasting and ever-growing blessings. The day falls on the third lunar day (tritiya) of the bright half of the Hindu month of Vaishakha and is observed with prayers, acts of generosity, and celebrations of new beginnings.
Ridván (April 20 – May 2): Ridván is the holiest and most significant of the Bahá'í Holy Days, commemorating the twelve-day period in 1863 when Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, declared His mission as a Messenger of God in the Garden of Ridván (meaning "Paradise" in Arabic) in Baghdad. The first day of Ridván (April 20) marks the anniversary of this declaration and is celebrated with joyous gatherings, prayers, and community fellowship. Work is suspended on the first, ninth, and twelfth days of Ridván.
Ninth Day of Ridván (April 28 – April 29): The Ninth Day of Ridván commemorates the arrival of Bahá'u'lláh's family to join Him in the Garden of Ridván during the historic twelve-day period of 1863. It is one of the three days during Ridván on which work is suspended, and is celebrated as a festival of joy, unity, and gratitude within the Bahá'í community through gatherings, prayers, and fellowship.
We welcome the celebration of each of these holidays on our campuses and encourage support for those requiring accommodations. You can find information and guidance about academic accommodations for religious observations on the Provost Office’s webpage.
To see more information about resources and events happening this month and throughout the semester, please visit OICR's events page. OICR writes these letters in collaboration with our partners across the UConn system. If we inadvertently omitted a cultural or religious holiday, please let us know by emailing us at diversity@uconn.edu.
If you would like to receive our OICR Weekly Digest, where you can receive regular updates about upcoming events, programs, and opportunities, subscribe to the OICR Weekly Digest.
Sincerely,
Jeff and Pamir
Jeffrey F. Hines, MD
Vice President, Office for Inclusion and Civil Rights, UConn and UConn Health
Pamir Alpay, Ph.D.
Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
