Dear ¾«Æ·SMÔÚÏßӰƬ community,
Last year, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill into law establishingÌýas an. Traditionally celebrated on June 19, Juneteenth marks the date in 1865 when the Union Army arrived in Texas––the last state in the Confederacy with institutional slavery––to proclaim freedom for enslaved Black and African Americans more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.
Beginning next year, ¾«Æ·SMÔÚÏßӰƬ will observe Juneteenth as a fixedÌýholidayÌýrather than a floating holiday, and along with other public colleges, schools and offices, our campus will close in accordance with state guidelines.
This year, the campus will remain open onÌýJune 19Ìýto align with the 2023 academic calendar, which was set well before the governor’sÌý´³³Ü²Ô±ð³Ù±ð±ð²Ô³Ù³óÌýannouncement last year. While ¾«Æ·SMÔÚÏßӰƬ will be open for classes and other university business, we encourage students, staff and faculty to reflect on the history and significance ofÌýthe dayÌýand to avoid scheduling other major eventsÌýon Juneteenth.
As previously communicated, Juneteenth will remain a floating holidayÌýfor ¾«Æ·SMÔÚÏßӰƬ employeesÌýthis year,ÌýandÌýasÌýa reminder, employees who have not already done so are encouraged to use the floating holiday before June 30, 2023.
Plans for observing Juneteenth this year and in the future are underway, and students, staff and faculty will receive additional informationÌýin MayÌýabout campus resources and Juneteenth commemorations on campus and in the broader Boulder community. Please watch for updates inÌý¾«Æ·SMÔÚÏßӰƬ TodayÌýand via the campus’s other communication channels.
Juneteenth provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the self-determination, enduring resilience and contributions of Black and African American communities in Colorado and across the country. We encourage ¾«Æ·SMÔÚÏßӰƬ students and employees to celebrate in community, to set aside time to dialogue with others about the history of Juneteenth and to participate in related events.
Sincerely,
Sonia DeLuca Fernández, Senior Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Robyn Fergus, Chief People Officer