Due to the national significance of the passing of President George H.W. Bush, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln will honor the national day of mourning on Dec. 5, Chancellor Ronnie Green announced in a Dec. 3 email to campus. This day will be a paid holiday for all non-essential university employees, and classes will be canceled.

“I recognize this is the final scheduled week of classes as we work to complete this semester,” Green said. “I am confident that faculty will work directly with their students to ensure they are able to successfully complete their work for the term.”

Green said he recognized the closure may cause some difficulty in rescheduling classes and events, and recommended that people with questions about university activities call ahead to learn about alternate scheduling. The events site will be updated as information is provided.

President Donald Trump issued an executive order declaring Dec. 5 a national day of mourning, meaning the federal government will be closed. Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts has also announced a Dec. 5 closure of Nebraska state government agencies.

Payroll Services will send information to university units about how to process and report this leave. Designated essential employees should continue to report, and will be compensated as established by campus payroll policies and procedures.

“Thank you in advance for your cooperation and understanding as we join our nation in celebrating the life of former President George H.W. Bush,” Green said.

Campus updates for Dec. 5

• University Health Center — The University Health Center and Counseling and Psychological Services will remain open Dec. 5. Big Red Resilience, which is located at the health center, will be closed.

• Campus Rec — Campus recreation centers will be open Dec. 5. All rec events and activities — including fitness classes, intramural sports games, swim lessons, sports club practices and dance classes — are canceled. Intramural sports athletes should check with their league account for rescheduling details. Hours Dec. 5 are: 8 a.m. to midnight at the Campus Rec Center and Rec and Wellness Center; and noon to 8 p.m. at the Outdoor Adventures Center.

• Women’s basketball — Nebraska’s women’s basketball team remains scheduled to play Kansas at 7 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Pinnacle Bank Arena, 400 Pinnacle Arena Dr.

• Music events — A performance by Nebraska’s Wind Ensemble, “Precision and Pandemonium,” will be held as scheduled at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5 in Kimball Recital Hall. The Glenn Korff School of Music plans to honor the life of former President George H.W. Bush at the performance as well.

• Retirement celebration changed — A retirement reception for Barbara Homer, scheduled for Dec. 5, has been rescheduled for 3 to 5 p.m. Dec. 13 in the Nebraska Union, Regency B-C. The reception is free and open to the public.

• Dining centers open — All University Housing dining centers are open Dec. 5. City Campus dining centers and grab-and-go locations will operate with regular hours. The Nebraska East Union Café and Grill will serve brunch from 10:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. and dinner from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Corner Express will be closed.