Stadiums help colleges hold in-person ceremonies

Spring commencement season on college campuses might best be summed up this year by an item published several days ago by the University of Pittsburgh.

“Volunteers are being sought to help at the numerous in-person ceremonies, but there’s still a chance that rising numbers of COVID-19 cases could put those events at risk.”

Weeks away from what should be a joyous marker of personal achievement — that walk across a commencement lawn or indoor stage — COVID-19 nevertheless continues to cast a shadow on

campuses across the Pittsburgh region.

Who will deliver the commencement remarks is getting less attention this year than whether the event can be held at all.

Schools intent on offering an in-person experience are dividing graduates into smaller ceremonies and using outdoor venues, such as PNC Park, where many Pitt students will receive their degrees, and Penn State University’s Beaver Stadium.

“A maximum of two guests per graduate will be permitted to attend in-person events,” reads a notice posted to Pitt’s website. “In order to properly maintain physical distance between graduates, guests, faculty and staff, several ceremonies will be hosted over multiple days.”

As is true at other schools, Pitt will stream ceremonies online so those unable to be there can be part of the event — at least virtually.

Those entering through the right field gates at PNC Park can at least fantasize about hitting a homer or catching a foul ball. It is among the venues being used this year, in addition to the Petersen Events Center.

“There will be separate ceremonies for each school this year to allow for social distancing,” Pitt spokesman David Seldin said Wednesday. “There’s no ‘main’ ceremony; the largest one is for Arts and Sciences and the College of General Studies, which will be the morning of Tuesday, May 4, at PNC Park.”

Pitt’s latest COVID-19 update Tuesday included encouraging data, including a drop in the rolling five-day infections per day to less than six, compared with 13 earlier this month. Students have been sheltering in place on the main campus with an enrollment of 29,000 to contain the virus’s spread in advance of graduation.

At Penn State, in-person guest limits also will apply to events on the main campus May 7-9.

“Commencement is a pivotal occasion for our students, their loved ones and our university community,” said Penn State President Eric Barron. “To be able to celebrate in person is important, and I am so pleased we will be able to gather together many of our graduates on campuses and virtually to mark this important milestone for the members of the class of 2021.”

In addition to the various in-person ceremonies hosted across the commonwealth, Penn State will hold a universitywide virtual ceremony.

“In my 30 years here, I do not recall any other commencement ceremony in Beaver Stadium,” Penn State spokeswoman Lisa Powers said Wednesday. “Our largest ceremonies are usually held in the Bryce Jordan Center.

Carnegie Mellon University plans events including commencement ceremonies on May 22 and 23 in Gesling Stadium. Times are still being determined.

Graduation season in Pittsburgh — and elsewhere — is turning on two sharply different realities about the pandemic. On one hand, vaccines are becoming more widespread, a cause for optimism, but variants of the deadly virus that already has killed a half-million Americans are raising fears of yet another infection surge as summer approaches.

At Duquesne University, events over several days beginning May 6 will include a virtual commencement ceremony for all graduates, featuring student speakers, remarks from the deans and slides that recognize students and their accomplishments. President Ken Gormley will address the class of 2021 during the commencement ceremony, and degrees will be conferred.

Various smaller, in-person, degree recognition ceremonies and observances are being planned, including a pinning ceremony for the School of Nursing, officials said.

At Robert Morris University, a series of events is planned May 6- 8 in the UPMC Events Center on campus, spokesman Jonathan Potts said.

At Indiana University of Pennsylvania, largest of the state-owned universities in Western Pennsylvania, inperson events are planned.

Graduate ceremonies will be held May 7 and multiple undergraduate ceremonies will take place on May 8 — all at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex.

La Roche University is to hold in-person commencement on May 8, in multiple ceremonies in the Kerr Fitness & Sports center.

West Virginia University is moving ahead with its own in-person ceremony plans.

Commencement will be held at Milan Puskar Stadium May 15 and 16 in four ceremonies, and masks and physical distancing will be required. All participants must register. Attendance at all four ceremonies will require tickets.