Holiday Schedule For 2012 and 2013
Posted: September 26, 2012
From: Susan Carkeek, Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer
Date: October 1, 2012 UPDATED Dec. 17, 2012
Subject: 2012 & 2013 Holiday Schedule for the Academic Division
As the holidays approach, here's a reminder of the remaining days off for 2012 and an announcement of the 2013 holiday schedule for U.Va.’s academic division. This information should be useful to you as you make plans to take time off, both this year and next.
Each year, we field a number of questions about the difference between the state’s holiday calendar and ours. I thought it would be helpful to clarify how holidays are scheduled at the University. The state and the University observe the same number of days off each year, but we take different holidays because of the student-centered nature of our business. This cuts down on the number of days that our administrative offices would have to stay open despite it being a “holiday.” For example, the state observed George Washington Day on Feb. 20, 2012, but classes were held on that day and many people were asked to work in order to provide required services. Instead, since there are no classes on the day before Thanksgiving in 2012, we have designated that day as a holiday and are able to allow the majority of our employees to be at home with their families.
Often, the Governor announces additional holidays later in the year. When he does, we treat those as comp time, because he usually awards days already listed as holidays on the University’s calendar.
2012 Remaining Holidays:
| Wednesday, November 21, 2012 | Day Before Thanksgiving (FULL DAY) |
| Thursday, November 22, 2012 | Thanksgiving |
| Friday, November 23, 2012 | Day after Thanksgiving |
| Monday, December 24, 2012 | Christmas Eve |
| Tuesday, December 25, 2012 | Christmas Day |
| Wednesday, December 26, 2012 | Day After Christmas |
| Monday, December 31, 2012 | New Year's Eve |
2012 Comp Time Already Awarded:
In addition to those holidays, four hours of comp special leave was credited to Classified Staff, University Staff, and Research Assistants on Dec. 19, 2011. Eight additional hours were awarded on Nov. 5, 2012. These must be used within 12 months of the date earned. Another eight additional hours were awarded on Dec. 17, 2012. These must be used withing 12 months of the date earned.
For twelve-month faculty, the additional twelve hours of leave should be worked out with individual managers. Please refer to the Provost’s policy on leave for more information.
Hours for part-time qualifying employees are pro-rated.
2013 Official Holidays:
The following are the officially observed 2013 U.Va. Academic Division holidays:
| Tuesday, January 1, 2013 | New Year's Day |
| Monday, January 21, 2013 | Martin Luther King, Jr. Day |
| Friday, March 15, 2013 | Spring Break Day |
| Monday, May 27, 2013 | Memorial Day |
| Thursday, July 4, 2013 | Independence Day |
| Monday, September 2, 2013 | Labor Day |
| Wednesday, November 27, 2013 | Day Before Thanksgiving (FULL DAY) |
| Thursday, November 28, 2013 | Thanksgiving |
| Friday, November 29, 2013 | Day After Thanksgiving |
| Tuesday, December 24, 2013 | Christmas Eve |
| Wednesday, December 25, 2013 | Christmas Day |
| Thursday, December 26, 2013 | Day After Christmas |
| Tuesday, December 31, 2013 | New Year's Eve |
The University will also award four hours of comp time for 2013 on Dec. 31, 2012, the start of the new leave year. Policies on taking this comp time are the same as for 2012, above.
Special Note Regarding Essential Services:
Even with careful scheduling, on certain University holidays some departments need to be open and should arrange at least limited coverage to provide essential services. For example, most student-related University offices will need to be open on Labor Day because classes are held on that day, and it is expected that your supervisors will arrange for adequate coverage. It is important for all of us to understand how necessary our services are and to work with each other to arrange an equitable schedule from year to year.
When you are asked to work on a holiday, compensatory leave will be awarded. Supervisors should give adequate advance notice to the affected employees for planning purposes.
Your supervisor or department administrators can answer questions about required coverage during other holidays.
Additional Holiday Information:
As always, if you wish to take additional leave or use your comp time around the holidays, you will need to have approval in advance from your supervisor. Supervisors are encouraged to be as flexible as possible in granting leave requests, especially during holiday periods.
- You can also see this schedule, and a comparison between our holidays and the state's, at the University Holiday Schedule 2013.
- The University of Virginia’s Health System administration will distribute holiday information pertaining to the Medical Center and Clinics.
- The University of Virginia’s College at Wise administration will distribute information pertaining to the College at Wise.
If you have any questions concerning these holidays please call the HR Service Center at 982.0123 or send an email to AskHR@virginia.edu.
I wish you a very happy 2012 and 2013!