To faculty and staff across the University of Illinois System:
We are delighted to announce that we will once again be granting three gift days to employees eligible for leave benefits in the upcoming 2025-26 fiscal year. These gift days will be Wednesday, Dec. 24; Tuesday, Dec. 30; and Wednesday, Dec. 31.
Since 2016, gift days have been an expression of our deep appreciation for the hard work and dedication you bring to your roles. Our universities, hospitals, clinics, and system offices will provide further details, including how to report gift days and how essential employees who must work on these dates can use them on different days. For employees in union-represented bargaining units, paid time off for the holidays is addressed through the collective bargaining process.
While we cannot guarantee that gift days will always be granted, we are pleased to continue this tradition, knowing that these days offer an extended opportunity to relax and unwind with family and friends during the well-deserved break at the end of the calendar year.
Although the winter break is many months away, we hope this information helps you plan ahead. Thank you once again for the talent, dedication, and innovative spirit you bring to our operations across the U of I System as we strive to deliver a world-class educational experience and leading-edge research.
Sincerely,
Tim Killeen, President, U of I System
Nick Jones, Executive Vice President and Vice President for Academic Affairs, U of I System
Marie Lynn Miranda, Chancellor, University of Illinois Chicago
Janet L. Gooch, Chancellor, University of Illinois Springfield
Robert J. Jones, Chancellor, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
