URI plans limited in-person graduation ceremonies
.I1*STO1 — The 8niversity of 5hode Island will proceed with both in-person and virtual ceremonies for its 2021 commencement after COVID-19 forced the school to present a fully online program in 2020.
85I plans to hold daylong events throughout the weekend of 0ay 21 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, it announced last week.
“We look forward to celebrating the Class of 2021 and all that it has overcome and achieved during this historic period for the university, nation and world,” 85I said.
As part of the commencement, the in-person portion of the events will be limited to graduates and faculty, while family members and friends of graduates will be invited to watch online on a livestream.
The in-person ceremonies will be held separately for each college and will take place outdoors at 85I’s 0eade Stadium.
Attending graduates will be seated in limited groups, following public health guidelines. After an address by the college’s dean, each student’s name will be called, and each graduate, dressed in regalia, will cross the stage and have professional photos taken.
8nder the guidance of the Center for Disease Control and 5hode Island Department of Health, all safety protocols will be followed. Surfaces will be saniti]ed between each ceremony, and hand saniti]ers will be available throughout the stadium.
There will be limited capacity during each ceremony and graduates will be socially distanced in seating and lining up. 3re-registration for all graduates attending will be reTuired, and no food or beverages will be sold during ceremonies.
Seniors at 85I on Tuesday said they welcomed the chance to experience commencement in person, but also expressed disappointment that their families can’t be present.
“There’s definitely a mixed feeling about it,” .atie 0ossbarger, 23, an elementary education maMor from Sandy Hook, Connecticut, said.
“I’m so happy they’re at least trying to get us this opportunity to walk,” she added. But she acknowledged it will be unusual.
“0y family is not from here, so they’re supposed to watch online, but what does that leave" I Must kind of leave 0eade and walk out alone"” 0ossbarger said. “So it’s definitely very interesting, this aspect that I won’t be able to be with them, because they’ll be in Connecticut.”
0ossbarger had friends who graduated last year, and they told her it was a mixed experience as well.
“It felt almost like they didn’t graduate because they didn’t get to walk,” she said. “But others liked to be able to be with their family to experience it.”
85I has heard from graduates, their families and others about commencement, spokesman Dave /avallee said.
“One of the things we want to acknowledge is that this is a difficult time for everybody,” he said. “And we understand the disappointment of parents who want to celebrate the accomplishments of students.”
85I looked at multiple options for ceremonies and settled on giving students the opportunity to “wear regalia, hear inspiring messages, cross the platform, have their names announced, celebrate with the class and have professional photographs taken,” /avallee said. “Our commencement team did consult with the 85I COVID Task Force, 85I Health Services, 5hode Island Department of Health and CDC and made the decision to limit ceremonies only to graduates and to hold ceremonies outside at 0eade Stadium based on safety regulations.”
The class of 2021 includes more than 4,300 graduates. Current state COVID regulations limit capacity of outdoor events to 125 people. So the university will conduct its ceremonies essentially all day and evening on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of commencement weekend, /avallee said. 0any colleges will hold separate ceremonies divided by department. All will be streamed live for family members and others.
The university has submitted a proposal to the state health department reTuesting to raise the number of attendees, and is waiting for guidance, /avallee said.
“We don’t expect that for several weeks,” he said. All participants in the ceremonies are active in 85I’s COVID testing program and will complete daily health assessments before arriving at the ceremonies.
Some graduates, such as Ashley -usta, want 85I to do more. In posts online, -usta shared frustration over the plans with the school and *ov. Dan 0c.ee.
“As a graduating senior, I see the light at the end of tunnel. I have worked too damn hard to not have both my mother and father in attendance at my graduation. I pray you and your administration revisit the guidelines,” -usta wrote. “The graduation ceremony is held outside in µopen air.’ The grounds are huge and I am sure that if the administration at 85I puts their creative thinking caps on and aren’t afraid of a little more work with chair placement, the graduation can take place in-person.”
Others, like Sarah Cook, suggested limited tickets for each senior to invite family.
“I was checking daily for updates about graduation. It’s taken me six years to get to this point and I am crushed I can’t celebrate with my parents and significant other and take pictures on the beautiful campus in the spring,” Cook said. “And hear a crowd applaud walking across the stage.”
“We do understand parents and friends want to attend, but we face all these public guidelines and we have to follow them,” /avallee said. “The good news is, all ceremonies will be live streamed for families, friends and 85I community members to view from around the world.”
85I said it continues to also plan for a public ceremony for 2020 graduates, and is now eyeing a fall date for that program.