Winter Closure

PLEASE NOTE: The information below applies to employees in the School of Humanities and Sciences. Please consult your local HR for more information regarding winter closure policies in your School/Unit.

Areas that completely close will be provided three (3) additional days with pay. The additional days off with pay may be taken on any typical workday during the close period, not an employee's regularly scheduled day off or a designated holiday.  For the other regular workdays during winter close that are not designated by the University as holidays or paid days off, we recommend employees use the following options to cover closure dates:

• Floating holiday or available personal time off (PTO) for 2025 or accrued vacation time
• Time off borrowed from 2026 PTO accrual (24 hours per calendar year, which is prorated for part-time employees and employees who are hired after January 1, 2025)
• Time off borrowed from 2026 floating holiday accrual (16 hours per calendar year, which is prorated for part-time employees)
• Time off borrowed from December 2025 vacation accrual, which is normally not available for use until 1/1/26 (up to one month’s accrual is permitted)
• Leave without pay 

AREAS THAT ARE UNABLE TO FULLY CLOSE DUE TO CRITICAL OPERATIONS

For areas that are unable to fully close due to critical (e.g., safety, health) operations, please connect with your HR Business Partner.

If staff are approved to work during winter closure due to the critical nature of their work (including staff working remotely) managers should be available to supervise staff and support should be available to address any facility, safety, and/or personnel-related emergencies. Except where critical operations must continue, all areas of the University are asked to close during this two-week period and all staff (benefits-eligible, contingent, and student employees) should follow the winter closure policy.