Rutgers Will Observe Juneteenth as a University Holiday

November 19, 2021

Members of the Rutgers Community:

I am pleased to announce today that Juneteenth will be a recognized as an official university holiday starting in 2022, when it will be observed on Friday, June 17. We will follow the observance of the recently established state holiday, which places it on the third Friday of June.

Juneteenth, sometimes referred to as Emancipation Day, commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. It marks the day—June 19, 1865—on which federal troops arrived in Texas and announced that the enslaved people in that state were declared free. It became a federal holiday earlier this year.

The inclusion of Juneteenth on the Rutgers calendar will be in addition to the current holidays listed on the University Holiday and Closing Schedule. Applicable provisions in university policies and collective negotiations agreements regarding university holidays will apply.  

University events and programs regarding Juneteenth are being planned, so look for announcements in the coming months. 

Sincerely,

Jonathan Holloway
President and University Professor