2020 Commencement Tentatively Scheduled For 2021

Seniors give input to university admin

Commencement for the Class of 2020 will most likely take place in the spring of 2021. 

In an email to President Kevin O’Brien and Provost Lisa Kloppenberg on May 18, a Commencement Ceremonies Working Group provided a list of recommendations for commencement based on results obtained from a Class of 2020 survey and public health guidelines. This working group recommended the University to plan commencement for next year. 

“Because of [the] limitations on large gatherings this year, we do not feel it is responsible or fair to the Class of 2020 for the University to plan commencement before Spring 2021,” the working group wrote in an email sent to the Class of 2020. 

The Commencement Ceremonies Working Group was created after the University announced on March 27 that the Class of 2020 Commencement would be postponed due to COVID-19. It consists of nine members, five of which are seniors in the Class of 2020 and four that are University faculty and staff members. 

From the survey, the Class of 2020 made it clear that they would like commencement to happen as soon as possible, with guests, and separate from the Class of 2021’s ceremonies and celebration.

To meet the Class of 2020’s request to have their ceremonies held separate from the Class of 2021’s, the group provided two scenarios of how to hold both commencements during spring quarter next year. 

In addition to planning for next spring, the group also recommended that the University find a widely recognized public figure to be the commencement speaker. Gavin Newsom was given as an example. 

While President Kevin O’Brien S.J. feels it is important to celebrate the class of 2020, he is aware that the ability to celebrate may be restricted by factors like county guidelines, budgeting, and time. 

“The question will be, just practically, what are we able to do when the time comes?” said O’Brien.  

The decision to postpone commencement is one being taken up by other universities. Near the end of March, Stanford University’s administration announced their decision to host commencement for the Class of 2020 on campus at some point in the future. 

At other schools like the University of Washington, graduation for the Class of 2020 will only be conducted online with no in-person ceremony in the future. 

Many students at Santa Clara feel devastated by commencement’s cancelation and postponement, but Senior Naomi Isom has become content with it.

“I am going to miss the excitement of celebrating with my friends and family, but I know we’ll find a way to get together eventually,” said Isom. 

For now, the University is attempting to foster an uplifting environment for graduating seniors during this time through a virtual celebration.

On June 13, a virtual celebration will take place to celebrate the class of 2020, which is the same day their commencement would have been.

The Commencement Office has put together a celebration kit that includes yard and window signs, social media templates, Zoom backgrounds for the event, and virtual email invitations to send to family and friends. 

Physical commencement may not take place until the spring of 2021, but the Santa Clara community is still coming together to commemorate the Class of 2020. 

“The biggest thing is actually graduating, and that’s going to happen!” said Isom.