Honoring Juneteenth

Dear UMBC Community,

We are pleased to share with you that in partnership with the University System of Maryland, UMBC is recognizing Juneteenth as an administrative leave day. 

For 2021, UMBC will be closed on Friday, June 18. Exempt employees who must work on June 18th can take administrative leave by August 31, 2021.  Nonexempt employees who must work on the administrative leave day will be credited with the administrative leave on that day.  

Juneteenth honors June 19, 1865, the day that Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas with news that the Civil War had ended and that the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863, declaring the freedom of slaves in states not controlled by the Union, would be enforced for the first time. We support the work of activists in Maryland and across the country that are seeking to make Juneteenth an official holiday as it has long been observed by many in our community as a way to celebrate the accomplishments and resilience of Black Americans. 

At UMBC, we know how impactful the legacy of slavery is for our community members. We also know that the work for racial equity is far from over. We are committed to continuing this work every day through our words, our actions, and our community values. 

We encourage all in our community to use the day to put our UMBC values of equity and inclusion into action by participating in events honoring the holiday or through education and self-reflection on racial justice issues.

President Hrabowski and Provost Rous