St. Thomas will be giving faculty and staff three extra paid days off between fall semester and January Term to spend with their families over the holidays.

The gift days, a tradition started by previous president Father Dennis Dease, will fall between the last day of finals, beginning Dec. 22 and ending on the first day of J-Term, Jan. 2.

“Our employees work so hard throughout the year and they’re dedicated to our students and to our university,” President Julie Sullivan said. “It’s a way that they can really have that uninterrupted time to travel, to be with family.”

This announcement has garnered a positive response from multiple St. Thomas employees.

“The gift days impact me very positively because my kids are off school during that time,” said Library Acquisitions Assistant Debra Juarez. “If I didn’t get gift days, I would have to take my vacation hours which would mean I wouldn’t get to spend time with them at other times of the year.”

While several workers will be on staff for students living on campus over the break, Sullivan assures that they will get those three paid days off at other times in the year.

“You get a really nice break and you get to enjoy the season and the time with your family that you wouldn’t have otherwise,” Juarez said.

Tommie Shop Manager Colleen Utect hopes fellow employees do not take these days for granted.

“I’m so grateful because it allows me to up my volunteer hours that I would’ve never been able to do,” Tommie Shop Manager Colleen Utecht said. “To be part of the St. Thomas community and to have that is over-the-top. It is really cool.”

Sullivan has noticed the thank-you notes from multiple staff members that come in every year.

“I do get notes every year from staff thanking me for continuing the tradition,” Sullivan said. “I think it’s about being with family, whether they’re here or somewhere else.”

Emily Haugen can be reached at haug7231@stthomas.edu.