Commencement Plans?

Alania Cater

Hi, I hope everyone is staying safe during these unprecedented times.  As we approach graduation, we are reading about many schools cancelling or changing their commencement plans.  If you've already thought that far, what, if anything, is your institution changing this year for commencement? 
https://er.educause.edu/blogs/2020/3/educause-covid-19-quickpoll-2020-commencement-plans

Kristi Kolpanen

Texas Christian University (TCU) has decided to move the May commencement ceremony to August this year. Our 50-Year Reunion (events & walk as part of graduation) has been postponed - I believe they will combine the classes of 1970 & 1971 for the May 2021 commencement ceremony.

Stephanie Boon

Williamson College of the Trades is most likely looking at a virtual Commencement on May 29th (original grad date) and possibly a full on-campus ceremony as part of our Homecoming activities in October.

Bryna Gleich

My home county has an old fashioned drive in movie theater. A few of the schools there have plans to host graduation at the drive in.


They have a stage and graduates can walk across the stage to pick up their diploma from a display table when their name is called. They aren't shaking hands though. No one hands them a diploma; they get it from the display table as they cross the stage.


Guests and family attend and view the ceremony from their vehicles at a safe distance from each other. Sound is broadcast through the radio for the drive in. The drive in can also project a camera view of the students as they each walk across the stage, slideshows, and prerecorded media for the ceremony.


I think a number of drive in movie theaters across the USA are doing this. Unfortunately, many places no longer have drive in movie theaters. However, there might be a way to set up a temporary "drive in" projection screen and stage for towns that don't have these places. 


The size of the graduating class and whether students/families need to travel/stay in hotels can complicate things though.  

Dan Snyder

Bennington College is doing vitrual commencement in late May when the original commencement was to be held, then a joint celebration with the Class of 2021 next year.