To help employees plan for time-off and work schedules throughout the year, the university has shared Winter Break has been approved this year to commence at the end of the day on Friday, Dec. 18, 2026, and the university will reopen on Monday, Jan. 4, 2027. The break is 10 business days, three of which are paid holidays. Thanks to President Rick Muma, employees may use four “Additional Personal Days” to remain in pay status during Winter Break. Classes will not be in session during this period.
Unclassified Professional and University Support Staff may use accumulated paid leave, Additional Personal Days or their 2027 discretionary day* to cover time off during Winter Break. Non-exempt employees may also use accumulated compensatory time off during Winter Break.
If an employee’s role requires them to work during Winter Break, it must be approved in advance by their immediate supervisor.
Dates of Winter Break:
- Monday, Dec. 21, 2026
- Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2026
- Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2026
- Thursday, Dec. 24, 2026 (paid holiday**)
- Friday, Dec. 25, 2026 (paid holiday)
- Monday, Dec. 28, 2026
- Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2026
- Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2026
- Thursday, Dec. 31, 2026
- Friday, Jan. 1, 2027 (paid holiday)
An employee must be in pay status the entire workday before and the entire workday after state holidays to receive holiday pay. This year the official state holidays (bolded) are Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Employees required to work during Winter Break will be allowed to use their four Additional Personal Days anytime from Dec. 21, 2026 through Jan. 31, 2027.
*The discretionary day for 2026 must be used on or before Friday, Dec. 18, 2026, prior to the beginning of Winter Break. The discretionary day for 2027 will be available as of Sunday, Dec. 20, 2026 and may be used during the 2026 Winter Break.
**The governor may designate additional paid holidays for state employees, often around holiday seasons in some years. In 2026, with Christmas falling on Friday, the governor has designated an additional holiday for Thursday, Christmas Eve.