MTSU closes June 19 for Juneteenth holiday; offices reopen, classes resume June 20

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University will be closed Thursday, June 19, for the Juneteenth U.S. federal and state holiday.

No summer classes will be held and all university offices will be closed.

MTSU will reopen at 8 a.m. Friday, June 20, and summer classes will return to their regular schedule.

Closures will include the James E. Walker Library, Campus Recreation Center and Student Union.

Activities planned for high school students from across the state attending the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts will go on as scheduled on June 19.

Daily campus tours will resume June 20. For more information, email tours@mtsu.edu or call 615-898-5670. For more admissions information, email admissions@mtsu.edu or call 615-898-2233.

For information regarding New to Blue orientationfor new students, call New Student and Family Programsat 615-898-5533 or visit https://mtsu.edu/customs/.

Representatives from the Middle Tennessee State University College of Liberal Arts will be one of the university groups participating in the Murfreesboro Juneteenth celebration, providing free items for attendees from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 21, near Bradley Academy Museum and Cultural Center on South Academy Street. The Albert Gore Research Center and Center for Historic Preservation also will attend the popular event. (MTSU file photo by James Cessna)

Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people on the anniversary of the order, issued by Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger on June 19, 1865, proclaiming freedom of slaves in Texas.

Then-President Joe Biden signed a bill into law making Juneteenth a federal holiday in 2021, and on May 5, 2023, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed legislation declaring Juneteenth an official state holiday in response to a bill from the General Assembly.

Murfreesboro Juneteenth celebration

MTSU will join a host of organizations and vendors this year for the Murfreesboro Juneteenth celebration and street festival scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 21, near Bradley Academy Museum and Cultural Center on South Academy Street.

Dr. Leah Lyons, MTSU College of Liberal Arts dean and 2024-25 MTSU Alumni Awards Citation of Distinction (MTSU) — Dr. Leah Lyons

Presented by Cultural Arts Murfreesboro, the community event is free for all ages and will include a Kids’ Zone with free games and activities, food vendors, artists, informational booths from a host of local organizations and live music and dancing.

Opening remarks will be made at 10 a.m. by MTSU College of Liberal Arts Dean Leah Tolbert Lyons. The celebration will continue as the entertainment kicks off on two stages and includes DJ Smooth, DJ Hartful, Snazzy Cheer, Tremaine Robinson, Michael Dillard, Ernest Newsom, Ashley Mushamba & Movement 4.0 and Aconundrum.

The university will staff informational tables from the College of Liberal Arts, Albert Gore Research Center, Center for Historic Preservation and Alumni Relations Office.

— Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu)