Early Dismissal for Valedictory Exercises

To all Academic Division employees:

This year's Valedictory Exercises ceremony, featuring keynote Pharrell Williams, recording artist, will be held on Grounds on Friday, May 17, at 3:00 p.m. Charlottesville will be crowded, and we anticipate significant traffic and parking disruptions. As such, the University is asking staff and faculty to leave Grounds at 12 noon on May 17, to free up parking spaces and reduce traffic congestion.  

To that end, we are granting four hours of "comp special" leave to all salaried staff. Those not involved in Final Exercise preparation or related activities should use their leave on the afternoon of May 17, while staff supporting Valedictory and Final Exercises can use the leave at a future date. School of Medicine employees involved in clinical operations should consult with their manager as they also may be required to remain on Grounds and use the leave at a future date. Leave for part-time staff will be pro-rated.

Your manager should clearly communicate who needs to stay. All others not directly involved in these ceremonies are asked to leave Grounds to make way for the students, their families, and other guests.

Medical Center employees are not included in this closure. However, everyone should plan to allocate more time than usual to move through the area on the way to other destinations.

Thank you for helping this special afternoon go smoothly, and thank you to our colleagues who work so hard to coordinate Final Exercises. If you have any questions, please contact the HR Solution Center.