Message from Provost Lyman on our observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 2021

This message was sent to faculty and staff via email on Jan. 8.

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Dear Colleagues:

The New Paltz annual campus-wide observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Jan. 18) will take place on Monday, Jan. 25, 2021, as noted in the Academic Calendar.

Dr. King was and continues to be an important figure in our nation’s history and in the social and political discourse that emerged from the civil rights movement. By challenging racial discrimination in federal and state laws, the civil rights movement led to the development and passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, one of the movement’s most important legacies.

We encourage faculty across all disciplines to consider incorporating materials or discussions that explore Dr. King’s contributions and legacy. Please also consider encouraging student participation in appropriate extra-curricular programming (talks, seminars, panels, movie screenings, etc.).

There are thousands of resources that speak to the life and work of Dr. King. If you are in search of items to use in classes or co-curricular events this year, the Cornell Library guide is a nice place to start. The site has a broad mix of offerings including articles, books and clips of speeches and events.

We remind faculty that, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, you are asked to:

Avoid scheduling tests, quizzes or graded assignments on Jan. 25, 2021, the campus observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; and

Permit students who choose to participate in observances for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and who notify their professors beforehand of their intended absence, to make up assignments missed without penalty.

Thank you all for your support of this important day.

Best regards,

Barbara G. Lyman
Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs