06/18/2021
CLASSES CANCELLED for Friday, June 18 for the newly signed federal law / holiday . . . see official message below.
In accordance with newly signed federal law, the state of Idaho and Boise State University will recognize Juneteenth as a holiday tomorrow, Friday, June 18.
All classes will be canceled.
Given that the holiday has just been designated, all vice presidents will communicate with their teams to determine which employees may take the day off tomorrow, and which employees are needed on campus to ensure the continuity of programming and services.
Employees should report time tomorrow as they would for any other holiday. Employees who work the holiday may receive holiday pay or a future floating day off depending on their employment status, just as they would on any other state or federal holiday.
On June 19, 1865, about 200,000 enslaved people in Texas found out they had been freed by the Emancipation Proclamation two-and-a-half years earlier, on Jan. 1, 1863. It has become a tradition for African Americans to celebrate freedom every year around this time, and according to the NAACP, “Juneteenth is a rich tradition that continues to promote education and self-improvement.”
Gov. Little issued a proclamation earlier this week declaring June 19 as National Freedom Day in Idaho.
"Juneteenth marks the celebration of not just a moment in the past but also a renewed shared commitment to ensuring equality and opportunity are a reality for all Americans, in the present and the future," Little wrote in the proclamation. "I encourage all Idahoans to reflect on this historical day and our future as a country."
