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Benefit-Eligible Employees
Benefit-eligible employees working at least 20 hours per week are eligible to receive holiday pay. There is no waiting period for new employees - holiday pay is immediately available. If an employee is not in paid status (i.e receiving a $0.00 paycheck) during the pay period in which a paid holiday falls, the employee will not receive the holiday pay. 

Temporary Employees
Temporary employees are not eligible for holiday pay. 

The university observes 12 holidays each year:

• New Year's Day (plus one day before or after)
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Celebration of Alaska Civil Rights
• Friday of Spring Break  
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day (plus one day before or after)
• Labor Day
• Fall  Break (2 days)
• Christmas Day (plus one day before or after)

These holidays apply to all eligible employees, except those whose special duties are essential to the safety and security of the university as determined by the Chancellors. Union contracts may also govern holiday observance and pay. If you have questions, please reach out to ua-benefits@alaska.edu. 

Below is the holiday schedule for FY25, FY26, and FY27. 

Hard Closure
Each year, the university observes a hard closure during the winter break as a cost-savings measure. During hard closure, employees must use their annual leave, faculty time off, or leave without pay. The hard closure dates are the 3 business days between the Christmas day and New Year's day holidays. Official hard and soft closure dates are provided each year from Human Resources. Some departments will need to work over the hard closure. Please check with your supervisor regarding your work schedule over the hard closure. 

Soft Closure
Soft closure is observed as well, pending supervisory approval. These are the dates prior to the Christmas day and immediately after the New Years day holidays. 

Benefit-Eligible, Non-Represented Employees
After satisfying the six-month probation period, each benefit-eligible non-represented employee may select a personal holiday which must be approved by the immediate supervisor. The personal holiday cannot be used during the pay period in which July 1 falls. 

Use it or Lose it
The personal holiday does not accrue or carry over into future fiscal years. It must be used in the fiscal year it is awarded in.