In an email to students Friday, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs David Madigan announced that the university will now observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day, replacing Columbus Day on the university calendar. 

“I’m writing to announce a change in the university’s observance of the Columbus Day holiday. Beginning this year, the university will observe and celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day,” Madigan wrote.

The university will hold a panel discussing this change featuring Professor Ellen Cushman, associate dean of academic affairs, diversity and inclusion in the College of Social Sciences and Humanities. Other participants and details about the panel will be announced at a later date.