Hunter Oberst
News Editor
The Class of 2021 is on track to have an in-person commencement ceremony this year, though they shouldn’t expect friends and family to be in attendance.
Keene State College sent out an email to the Class of 2021 saying they are confident that an in-person commencement ceremony can be held on May 29 for this year’s graduates. The email, composed by President Melinda Treadwell, Provost Ockle Johnson and Associate Vice President of Student Enrollment Jen Ferrell, however added that the college will not be able to accommodate guests due to COVID-19 concerns.
“The health and safety of our community including you, your family and friends, are of utmost importance to us at Keene State,” the email said. “Unfortunately, it’s predicted that COVID-19 will continue to circulate among populations that have not been vaccinated yet, well into the summer. Commencement typically is host to thousands of people. We cannot take that large of a risk during the pandemic. For that reason, we are saddened to say that we cannot accommodate guests, families and others who wish to attend in person during the ceremony, even if they are vaccinated. We recognize this a great disappointment, and it is for our whole college community, too.”
Although guests won’t be able to attend commencement in person, the college will be live streaming all commencement events so that friends and family can attend virtually. According to the email, although the circumstances surrounding this year’s ceremony are unorthodox, the ceremony will still include some familiar traditions from past years.
These include the procession down Appian Way, crossing the stage while names are read and ‘Clap Out’ by members of the Keene State community after the ceremony.
All 2021 graduates who completed degree requirements in August of 2020, December of 2020 or are doing so remotely this semester will be contacted by the Office of Commencement regarding commencement attendance. Those who wish to attend the ceremony in-person will be tested for COVID-19 in advance, the email stated.
The college also announced through the email that the Nursing Pinning Ceremony will be held on May 28 in the Mabel Brown Room and the Honors Convocation will be held the same day in Redfern Main Theatre. The Master’s Hooding Ceremony will be held in the evening hours on May 28 in the Mabel Brown Room.
Class of 2021 graduates will order their commencement regalia online through Oak Hall to be picked up at the campus bookstore.
For more information regarding 2021 commencement, readers can contact commencement@keene.edu.
Hunter Oberst can be contacted at:
news@kscequinox.com
