University Holidays

2026-2027 University holidays

As defined in the employee handbook, the university observes the following dates as closed. Employees in a full-time, benefit status position and on the regular payroll are eligible for the paid holidays that occur during their normal work schedule.

• Memorial day Monday May 25, 2026

• Independence day Friday July 3, 2026

• Labor day Monday September 7, 2026

• Thanksgiving Thursday and Friday November 26 and 27, 2026

• Winter break Wednesday December 24, 2026 through Friday January 1, 2027

• Martin Luther King day Monday January 18, 2027

• Spring break Friday March 26, 2027

• Memorial day Monday May 31, 2027

Exception 2026: All hourly personnel whose positions are budgeted for 1535 or 1605 hours will observe the Memorial day holiday on Friday May 22, 2026, which is also their last normal scheduled day of work for 2025-26.

Exception 2027: All hourly personnel whose positions are budgeted for 1535 or 1605 hours will observe the Memorial Day holidays on Friday May 28, 2027, which  is also their last normal scheduled day of work for 2026-27.

Summer Fridays PTO program

2026 - University offices will officially close at noon each Friday beginning May 22 through July 31, 2026.  July 3 is a University Holiday and the University will be closed for the full day to observe both the holiday and summer friday.

Eligibility

Staff employees in a full-time, benefit-eligible position, and whose normal full-time work schedule extends through the summer months may participate in this PTO program during their normal work schedule.  Part-time employees are not eligible for this program.

To be eligible to be paid for the PTO, employees cannot have an unexcused absence the last scheduled day before this day, or the following scheduled work day.

Compensation

Compensation for the ½ day summer Fridays will be based on an employee’s regularly scheduled hours per day (i.e.: 3.5 hours for normal 7.0 hours per day, 4 hours for normal 8.0 hours per day).  Hourly paid employees should use the pay code SMRF to report these hours. PTO time will count towards hours worked for purposes of overtime calculation, and will continue to count towards hourly vacation and sick accrual.  PTO time cannot be carried over from week-to-week, unless pre-approved by Human Resources as an alternative.  

Vacation and sick time

Employees may, with supervisory approval, use a ½ day vacation, if available, in addition to the ½ day PTO in order to have the whole day off.

Employees who are out sick during a summer Friday will record the entire day as sick time as normal, and PTO will not apply.

Operational needs

As with all university closure periods, we recognize that several departments will have activities, service requirements, or varying shift schedules in the summer and therefore, will need to continue to have their offices fully operational and staffed during these times. In these cases, the Office of Human Resources will work closely with the departmental supervisors to determine possible alternative weekly PTO options.