Business Policies and Procedures Manual
Chapter 60: Personnel
WSU Holidays
BPPM 60.76
For more information contact:
Human Resource Services
509-335-4521
Overview
A holiday is a day when all University offices and departments on a WSU campus are closed except for certain essential service units.
The University provides eleven holidays each fiscal year for classified staff, annual faculty, and annual administrative and professional employees.
Statutory Holidays
State law designates the following as legal holidays. (RCW 1.16.050)
| New Year’s Day | January 1 |
| Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday | Third Monday in January |
| President’s Day | Third Monday in February |
| Memorial Day | Last Monday in May |
| Juneteenth | June 19 |
| Independence Day | July 4 |
| Labor Day | First Monday in September |
| Veterans’ Day | November 11 |
| Thanksgiving | Fourth Thursday in November |
| Native American Heritage Day | Fourth Friday in November |
| Christmas | December 25 |
Alternate Days
Sometimes a holiday is not observed on the statutory date.
- Any holiday that falls on a Sunday is observed the following Monday.
- Any holiday that falls on a Saturday is observed the preceding Friday.
- WSU may designate an alternate date for a given holiday. Such days are called “in-lieu” days.
WSU Schedule
See Human Resource Services (HRS) Leave Policies and Programs for the current WSU holiday schedule for specified University locations.
WSU Locations
The WSU holiday schedule is effective for all system-wide WSU locations.
Academic Breaks
A break in the academic calendar, when classes are not taught is not considered a holiday unless the break coincides with a University holiday designated by HRS.
WSU expects employees with ongoing responsibilities to perform those duties during academic breaks. This includes Resident Instructional Staff.
December Holiday Reduced Operations
December Holiday Reduced Operations occur between Christmas and New Year’s Day. During this time the University is open for essential operations in accordance with RCW 42.04.060. However, many University operations and services are unavailable or reduced with limited services. Department heads and directors should consult with their dean or division head to determine the necessary operational level for their unit, including staffing.
Employees remain responsible for complying with annual leave and other leave procedures outlined in BPPM 60.56 and 60.57.
View the December Holiday Reduced Operations schedule on the HRS website.
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Revisions: Dec. 2021 (Rev. 582) July 2021 (Rev. 571); Jan. 2019 (Rev. 525); Feb. 2016 (Rev. 466); Dec. 2014 (Rev. 442); May 1999 (Rev. 139); Apr. 1998 (Rev. 119); June 1997 (Rev. 104); Jan. 1994 (Rev. 94); Mar. 1987 (Rev. 66); Mar. 1979 (Rev. 31); Jan. 1979 (Rev. 30); Feb. 1978 – new policy (Rev. 24).