NYC Gazette

The City University of New York (CUNY) will close its 25 campuses to students on Wednesday, January 29, in observance of the Lunar New Year. This marks the first time CUNY has included this holiday in its official academic calendar, following a decision by the Board of Trustees last year. The university now recognizes four religious and cultural holidays: Lunar New Year, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, and Diwali.

Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez emphasized the importance of this decision for CUNY's diverse community. “Recognizing the significance of these four holidays to many members of our diverse community makes an important statement about our continued commitment to advancing equity on our campuses and our city,” he stated.

The inclusion aligns CUNY with the New York City Public Schools holiday calendar and was largely influenced by student leaders. The initiative allows students to celebrate these significant days without academic concerns.

Lunar New Year celebrates the start of the Year of the Snake and is an important cultural event for many Asian communities. This spring, CUNY will also observe Eid al-Fitr on March 31 and Eid al-Adha on June 5. Diwali will be observed on October 20.

CUNY's Spring 2025 semester began on January 25 for most campuses and runs through May 22. At Guttman, Kingsborough, and LaGuardia community colleges, it spans from March 6 to June 16.

CUNY is recognized as a transformative institution in New York City since its founding in 1847 as the first free public higher education institution in the nation. It serves over 240,000 students across various colleges and contributes significantly to social mobility within the city.