A Historic Summer

May 22, 2026

Dear Campus Community,

Over the coming months, we will celebrate a series of holidays during a historic summer for the United States. While these warm weather holidays often coincide with vacations and fun in the sun, they also hold a significance that warrants attention. I want to take a moment to share important information about these holidays and reflect on their significance for this country and our role as a public university.

Cleveland State University will be closed on Monday, May 25, in observance of Memorial Day. First recognized officially as “Memorial Day” in 1971, this holiday originally began in 1868 as a time for honoring soldiers in the American Civil War who had died in the line of duty. Today, this holiday acknowledges fallen members of our Armed Forces in all armed conflict and, for more than 150 years, has been spent remembering their sacrifice to preserve our freedom. As a designated Military Friendly campus, I am proud of the support we extend to military-connected families that are part of the CSU community.

Next month, the University will also be closed on Friday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States. This practice was abolished on New Year’s Day in 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln signed Proclamation 95, more commonly known as the Emancipation Proclamation. Yet, Juneteenth is named for the day on which the last remaining enslaved people in the state of Texas were freed — June 19, 1865. Thus, Juneteenth serves as a celebration of freedom for all people and also a reminder that hope and fortitude are vital in securing freedom.

And in July, the United States of America celebrates its semiquincentennial, the 250^th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The University will be closed on Friday, July 3, in observance of this historic Independence Day. This national milestone offers us the opportunity to reflect on our shared history, the progress we have made over two and a half centuries and the responsibilities we carry to shape the future for the better. At Cleveland State University, our mission to educate, inspire and empower our students is directly connected to that responsibility. At our best, when we are all working together toward the same mission and vision, we excel at preparing graduates who will strengthen our communities and who will steward our democracy for the next generations.

I hope you all make the most of this summer and these important historic holidays.

Warm regards,

Laura Bloomberg, PhD
President