Dear UMBC Community,
We write today to share updates to UMBC's academic and holiday calendars that will affect employee schedules in the short- and long-term, starting this fall.
Thanksgiving 2025
This semester, UMBC will be closed for an Administrative Leave day on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, November 26. (Campus will still be closed on Thanksgiving and Friday, as in previous years.) This is consistent with what has occurred over the past few years (as approved by the president) to ensure faculty and staff have time to celebrate and be with loved ones during this extended period.
Additional Holiday Leave Days in 2026 and Fall Recess
Beginning in calendar year 2026, in accordance with University System of Maryland bylaws, a total of four additional University Holiday Leave days are to be earned each calendar year and observed at the discretion of the institution's president or designee. Each calendar year you will learn how these days are planned for the year.
Regarding personal leave for staff, all regular full-time nonexempt and exempt staff employees shall receive three (3) days (not to exceed 24 hours) of personal leave on January 1 each calendar year, except that employees shall receive four (4) days (not to exceed 32 hours) of personal leave on January 1 in a leap year. Part-time employees working 50 percent or more shall receive personal leave on a pro-rated basis.
Starting Academic Year 2026 – 2027 there also will be two new changes to the academic calendar that were approved by the Faculty Senate last academic year. The start date of the semester will move from a Wednesday to a Monday. Beginning next year, UMBC will also have a Fall Class Recess on October 12 and 13, 2026. By shifting the start of the semester to a Monday, the total number of instruction days remains unchanged. During the recess, no academic courses will be offered but the university will be open. During this time, managers will work with employees to best determine how to operationally manage this time within their units. A separate communication to all supervisors will go out in the spring from Human Resources and Strategic Talent Management (HRSTM).
For questions related to the holiday calendar for this year and next, please feel free to reach out to the HRSTM team at hrstm@umbc.edu. For questions related to the academic calendar for this year and next, please feel free to reach out to the Office of the Registrar at registrar@umbc.edu.
Sincerely,
Lynne Adams
Associate Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer
Manfred H. M. van Dulmen
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs