The University of West Florida is considering a proposal to remove Juneteenth as one of the eight paid holidays for employees.
Celebrated on June 19, the federal holiday commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.
In a proposed amendment to UWF/REG.-2.028, titled University Holidays dated Oct. 9, the Juneteenth holiday is removed from the calendar.
Neither Interim President Manny Diaz Jr. nor Chief of Staff Clifford Humphrey could be reached for comment. Instead, the university emailed the Pensacola News Journal an official statement on the proposed amendment.
“At the University of West Florida, our goal is always to create the best possible academic and campus experience for our students and to support the well-being of our faculty and staff. To that end, we are still reviewing calendar proposals that will preserve the integrity of our academic calendar and ensure students meet credit hour requirements, while also giving our faculty, staff, and students quality time to enjoy their families during the holidays,” the statement said.
The proposal notes the university official initiating the proposed regulation amendment is Chief Human Resources Officer Jamie Sprague and does not include any explanation of why the Juneteenth holiday is proposed for removal.
The proposed amendment to the University Holiday regulation also:
The proposed amendment includes the continued observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day and Veterans Day.
Former President Joe Biden signed a bill in 2021 officially designating Juneteenth as a federal holiday.
UWF last celebrated Juneteenth with an event on June 16, with Frederick Longmire, assistant state attorney with the First Judicial Circuit’s Office of State Attorney, as guest speaker. Hosted by the UWF Black Employees Association, the celebration drew about 200 university employees and community members.
Dropping Juneteenth from the calendar falls in line with a series of decisions UWF has made since Gov. Ron DeSantis put the university on notice to be prepared for a bumpy ride as he and other conservative legislators and officials push to purge diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives from public institutions.
UWF this year closed its Office of Campus Culture and Access, which was formerly known as its Office of Equity and Diversity. The office’s senior director, Aurora Osborn, was removed from her position, and in a statement the university said the office’s functions had been absorbed into the Division of Academic Engagement and Student Affairs.
The Board of Trustees must vote on the calendar changes. The next full board meeting is set for 9 a.m. Dec. 11 in the University Conference Center and via Zoom.
The proposed amended regulation is posted on the university’s website at Regulations | University of West Florida for the public review. Notices pertaining to a regulation creation, amendment and repeal are posted for 30 days, with a comment period for the first 14 days. Anyone may comment on the proposed changes during that comment period by following the instructions contained in the notice.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: University of West Florida considers removing Juneteenth as an observed holiday
Reporting by Mary Lett, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
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