In Review: Spring Celebration

This spring’s graduation ceremonies will have a different look and feel from 2020, but the annual celebrations will not quite be back to normal.

In a message to the University, President Sarah Mangelsdorf announced that the ever-changing nature of the pandemic and state, county, and University guidelines mean that only students who are graduating and faculty and staff who have been on campus this spring will be allowed to attend the ceremonies. All the ceremonies will be livestreamed so that families, friends, and guests can join the events virtually.

Known as a hybrid approach, the in-person/virtual format is being adopted by many universities and colleges this year.

Mangelsdorf said the decision to limit the ceremonies to graduates was a difficult one.

“We studied many options before choosing this approach,” she said. “And the importance of having family and friends on hand to share in the moment weighed heavily in those deliberations. However, the welfare of our students, faculty, staff, and our community is our foremost concern.”

In addition to following a hybrid model, because of the limits on the size of gatherings and the seating capacities of University ven-ues, ceremonies will be held over two weekends—May 14 to 16 and May 20 to 23—instead of one.

For the Class of 2020, whose commencement ceremony was entirely virtual last May, the University is planning to host special events for the class as part of a fall celebration.

For updates about Commencement 2021, visit Rochester.edu/commencement.