UWF drops Juneteenth, adds Columbus Day as paid holiday
Rick Outzen
The University of West Florida administration has proposed 16 changes to the UWF regulations, ranging from the Student Code of Conduct to Procurement Services. On Sept. 16, UWF posted proposed changes to University Holidays that would eliminate Juneteenth (June 19) as an observed holiday and add Columbus Day.
Thanksgiving has been expanded from only Thanksgiving Day and the Friday after Thanksgiving to the entire Thanksgiving week, Monday through Friday. Instead of one week for the Winter Holiday, Dec. 24 thourgh Jan. 1, the paid holidays will cover two weeks that include Dec. 24, Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.
The public has until Sept. 30 to make comments.
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE REGULATION OR CHALLENGE: Cody Titus, Paralegal, Office of the General Counsel at ctitus@uwf.edu or 850-474-3420 or Office of the General Counsel, Building 10, 11000 University Parkway, Pensacola, Florida 32514.
In response, the University may solicit additional written comments, schedule a public hearing, withdraw or modify the proposed regulation amendment in whole or in part after notice, or proceed with adopting the regulation amendment. The comments must identify the regulation(s) on which you are commenting. Read the proposal.
Different from FSU
The observed holidays differ from those of the nearest Florida public university, Florida State University, which still observes Juneteenth. Florida A&M and the University of Florida do likewise. None of the three universities observe Columbus Day as a holiday.
Official FSU Observed Holidays (2025)
•New Year’s Day: January 1
•Martin Luther King Jr. Day: January 20
•Memorial Day: May 26
•Juneteenth (Federal Holiday): June 19
•Independence Day: July 4
•Labor Day: September 1
•Veterans Day: November 11
•Thanksgiving: November 26–28 (Weds—Fri)
•Winter/Christmas Break: December 22–January 2, with specific closure days typically including Christmas and New Year’s Day. (Two weeks)
Florida Law
Florida Statutes specify that certain holidays are officially recognized and must be observed by all state branches and agencies. Neither Columbus Day or Juneteenth are listed.
According to Section 110.117, the following are paid state holidays:
•New Year’s Day (January 1)
•Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. (third Monday in January)
•Memorial Day (last Monday in May)
•Independence Day (July 4)
•Labor Day (first Monday in September)
•Veterans’ Day (November 11)
•Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November)
•Friday after Thanksgiving
•Christmas Day (December 25)
Juneteenth
Juneteenth is a holiday commemorating June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Texas were declared free by Union Army General Gordon Granger, marking the effective end of slavery in the United States for the last group of enslaved people.
It is celebrated as “Freedom Day” and has become a symbol of emancipation and Black American resilience, marking the day when freedom was proclaimed after the Civil War throughout the country, especially in the Black community.
In 2021, the United States Congress passed and President Joe Biden signed into law the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, making it the eleventh official federal holiday, observed each year on June 19.
This year, the UWF Black Employees Association (BEA) and Office of Campus Culture & Access (OCCA) hosted a Juneteenth Celebration on Monday, June 17, at the UWF Commons Auditorium (Bldg. 22, Room 100). This celebration was free, open to the public, and included food, music, and special performances.
