UW Grants Release Time for Aug. 21 Eclipse

University of Wyoming President Laurie Nichols has granted an hour of release time for UW employees to watch the solar eclipse Monday, Aug. 21.

UW’s Laramie campus is not in the path of totality of the eclipse, which will begin crossing Wyoming at about 11:30 a.m. Aug. 21. But, a partial eclipse will be visible from campus.

“I know that some staff members are taking vacation days to travel to see the full eclipse, but this hour of release time will allow those who are working that day to view the partial eclipse from campus -- weather permitting, of course,” Nichols says.

The scheduling of release time should be a collaborative discussion between employee and supervisor to ensure the effective and efficient operation of the unit.

The UW-Casper branch campus, meanwhile, will be closed Aug. 21 along with Casper College. Casper is near the middle of the path of totality.

A number of UW faculty, staff and graduate students will participate in eclipse activities Aug. 21 at sites across the state. For details, go here.

And, the UW Office of Admissions plans presentations and campus tours Monday, Aug. 21, and Tuesday, Aug. 22, for prospective students traveling to and from the full eclipse path -- or those who experience it in Laramie.

Admissions presentations, running about 45 minutes each, are scheduled at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Campus tours are scheduled at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.