Amherst College Holiday Schedule

The College recognizes the following holidays:

  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
  • Memorial Day
  • Juneteenth
  • Independence Day
  • Labor Day
  • Thanksgiving (which includes one-half day Wednesday, plus Thursday and Friday)
  • Winter Break (the dates of which will be approved by Senior Leadership each year)
  • 4.5 Floating Holidays

How pay for these holidays will work:

  • Eligible hourly employees who are required to work on an observed College holiday will be paid time-and-one-half their hourly rate in addition to receiving holiday pay at straight time.
  • Compensatory time off on a time-and-one-half basis may be allowed for benefited hourly employees in lieu of overtime pay, provided that time is taken within the same workweek. In such instances, work performed on the holiday is paid on a straight-time basis.
  • Exempt or salaried employees who for business reasons are required to work on an observed College holiday will be awarded compensatory time off.

Floating Holidays

Regular, full-time staff are entitled to 4.5 floating holidays per fiscal year. New employees earn floating holidays in their first fiscal year of employment on a pro-rated basis. Floating holidays are also prorated for employees working an academic year and/or part-time. The selection of the dates of floating holidays by the employee is subject to the approval of the Supervisor or Department Head/Chair. There is no payment for floating holidays not taken, nor do they accumulate from one fiscal year to the next.

For information about religious holidays, please visit the Religious Life page.


Holiday Dates

YearHoliday Date(s)
2024Martin Luther King, Jr. DayMonday, January 15, 2024
Memorial DayMonday, May 27, 2024
JuneteenthWednesday, June 19, 2024
Independence DayThursday, July 4, 2024
Independence DayFriday, July 5, 2024
Labor DayMonday, September 2, 2024
Thanksgiving (half day)Wednesday, November 27, 2024
ThanksgivingThursday, November 28, 2024
ThanksgivingFriday, November 29, 2024
2024-2025Winter BreakMonday, December 23, 2024 – Wednesday, January 1, 2025
2025Martin Luther King, Jr. DayMonday, January 20, 2025
Memorial DayMonday, May 26, 2025
JuneteenthThursday, June 19, 2025
Independence DayFriday, July 4, 2025
Labor DayMonday, September 1, 2025
Thanksgiving (half day)Wednesday, November 26, 2025
ThanksgivingThursday, November 27, 2025
ThanksgivingFriday, November 28, 2025
2025 - 2026Winter BreakWednesday, December 24, 2025 – Friday, January 2, 2026