2023–2024 Vacation and Holiday Schedule
To: All Faculty and Staff
From: Jeremy D. Falke, Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer
Date: June 13, 2023
Subject: UT Southwestern 2023–2024 Vacation and Holiday Schedule
I am pleased to announce the holiday schedule for Fiscal Year 2023–2024. The total number of holidays awarded to state employees fluctuates annually because of that year’s calendar and whether certain holidays fall on a Saturday or a Sunday. Institutions of higher education may rearrange state holidays and establish their own holidays in order to provide more effective work schedules that are consistent with the academic calendar. The Texas Legislature has designated13 holidays for fiscal year 2024, effective September 1, 2023.
Floating Holidays
At UT Southwestern, we have elected to designate 2 days (16 hours) of the 13 state holidays allowed as “floating holidays” to provide employees more flexibility in choosing their own time off. These 16 hours are evenly distributed throughout the 12-month fiscal year. Floating holiday hours may be scheduled with prior approval of the employee’s immediate supervisor. Floating holidays do not require a waiting period before the employee may schedule their use. Regular benefits-eligible employees appointed for less than 40 hours per week will accrue floating holiday hours proportionate to their appointment percentage.
Clinical Operations and Support
William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital will be fully operational on all holidays, with the appropriate skeleton crew in support areas. An employee who works as a member of a skeleton crew or who works on a designated holiday, with prior supervisory approval, will be granted state compensatory time in lieu of the holiday. State compensatory time off must be scheduled within twelve (12) months following the workweek in which it was earned, or it lapses. State compensatory time off must be used before vacation hours. See EMP-261 Holiday Leave and EMP-204 Overtime Compensation.
State compensatory time may also be used to observe an alternative religious holiday(s), or a state or national holiday that is not officially observed by UT Southwestern. The Texas Legislature has specified Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Good Friday (same date as observed Spring Holiday in UTSW FY24 holiday schedule), and Cesar Chavez Day as optional holidays. Employees are entitled to observe these holidays provided that they work a skeleton crew holiday, or use accrued and available leave.
Holidays
The holiday schedule for 2023–2024 is as follows:
| Day and Date | Holiday | Academic Offices/ Research Labs | Clinics and Ancillary Support | Central Administration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday, September 4, 2023 | Labor Day | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Thursday, November 23, 2023 | Thanksgiving Day | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Friday, November 24, 2023 | Thanksgiving Holiday | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Monday, December 25, 2023 | Christmas Holiday | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Monday, January 1, 2024 | New Year’s Holiday | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Monday, January 15, 2024 | Martin Luther King, Jr. Day | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Monday, February 19, 2024 | Presidents Day | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Friday, March 29, 2024 | Spring Holiday Break | Closed | Open | Closed |
| Monday, May 27, 2024 | Memorial Day | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Wednesday, June 19, 2024 | Emancipation Day (Juneteenth) |
Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Thursday, July 4, 2024 | Independence Day | Closed | Closed | Closed |
Hospitals remain open and adjust schedules and services as appropriate.
Vacation
Full-time employee vacation and floating holiday accrual rates are as follows:
| Employee with Total State Employment of: | FY24 Holiday Hours Accrued Per Month | Vacation Hours | Accrued Per Month | Maximum Vacation Carryover into Next Fiscal Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 but less than 2 years | 1.33 | 8 | 9.33 | 180 |
| 2 but less than 5 years | 1.33 | 9 | 10.33 | 244 |
| 5 but less than 10 years | 1.33 | 10 | 11.33 | 268 |
| 10 but less than 15 years | 1.33 | 11 | 12.33 | 292 |
| 15 but less than 20 years | 1.33 | 13 | 14.33 | 340 |
| 20 but less than 25 years | 1.33 | 15 | 16.33 | 388 |
| 25 but less than 30 years | 1.33 | 17 | 18.33 | 436 |
| 30 but less than 35 years | 1.33 | 19 | 20.22 | 484 |
| 35 years or more | 1.33 | 21 | 22.33 | 532 |
Employees are encouraged to utilize their holiday and vacation time in the year it is earned. The number of unused vacation hours that can carry forward from one fiscal year into the next is shown above. Holiday hours are not included in the maximum hours that can carry forward. Unused holiday hours must be separately accounted for and can carry forward from one fiscal year into the next. Unused vacation leave in excess of the maximum carry-forward amount will be credited to the employee’s sick leave balance on Sept. 1 each year. Maximum carryover and accrued hours for part-time benefits-eligible employees are proportionate to their appointment percentage. See EMP-252 Vacation Leave.