The state of Tennessee has officially recognized Juneteenth as a legal state holiday. Thank you to Gov. Bill Lee and our Tennessee General Assembly for passing this meaningful legislation.
Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day or Freedom Day, is a day to commemorate the emancipation of the last remaining enslaved African Americans in the United States. It recognizes the date of the executive decree announcement in Texas by the U.S. Army, which freed more than 250,000 African Americans who were the last to learn of their freedom on June 19, 1865.
As a result of this state recognition, the University of Tennessee System will now observe Juneteenth as a systemwide paid holiday beginning June of 2023. This means our offices, campuses and institutes will be closed on June 19, 2023, in recognition of this national holiday. This holiday also provides employees an opportunity to honor the present and reflect on our shared history and tradition.
If you have any questions regarding this newly recognized state holiday, please connect with your supervisor or reach out to our human resources department at systemhr@tennessee.edu.
Randy Boyd – President, University of Tennessee System
Brian K. Dickens – Chief Human Resources Officer, University of Tennessee System