USU announces in-person graduation with virtual elements
Utah State University announced plans for smaller in-person convocation events this May.
According to a press release published today, the university will host approximately 50 events for its 2021 graduates. Each event will include a processional from an outdoor staging area to an indoor location and limited to 60-80 students and some faculty members. Families and friends of graduating students are invited to attend virtually via the school’s livestream system.
Events will take place in locations across campus, unlike the usual ceremonies, which take place at the Spectrum. This is to decrease the risk of COVID-19 spread by keeping gatherings smaller and separated from each other.
“I am thrilled we have found a way to honor our graduates and provide an opportunity for them to celebrate with fellow students on our beautiful campus this spring,” said President Noelle E. Cockett in the press release. “The class of 2021 has shown incredible resilience and flexibility, and we look forward to recognizing their hard work.”
Convocations will include recorded speeches by valedictorians, a video of Cockett conferring degrees and recordings of “Pomp and Circumstance,” the traditional graduation soundtrack. Masks and social distancing will be required and hygiene stations will be used to lessen the risk of COVID-19 spread.
According to Emilie Wheeler, USU news director, the decision to move forward with current plans came after considering many factors, including traffic flow, duration, sanitation and contact tracing.
USU cancelled its 2020 commencement ceremonies after the COVID-19 pandemic began in the United States. While there are no set plans, the school is committed to hosting an on-campus event for 2020 graduates when travel is safe again and will send out information about this.
Wheeler said this event will happen “when state public health officials say that larger gatherings are safe, or safer, when there’s a decreased risk for travel, when the vaccination rate reaches a critical level and when the local community is not designated as ‘high’ within the state for the transmission level.”
2020 graduates can update their contact information to receive updates on the event at this link.
2021 graduating students should apply for graduation by Feb. 28 and will RSVP for their college convocations in mid-March.
Statewide campuses will announce plans for commencement activities in the near future.
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