COVID-19 and its subsequent mitigation restrictions have halted in-person activities for over a year. For the NCC Class of 2020, it meant holding their commencement ceremony virtually.
However, with the recent easing of restrictions, NCC will be conducting four in-person commencement ceremonies throughout the weekend of May 8 and May 9. The outdoor ceremonies will take place in the Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.
“It was important to be able to provide students an opportunity to participate … so what made the most sense was to move (commencement) outdoors into the stadium,” said Mary Reynolds, associate director of Alumni Engagement.
Six hundred graduate and undergraduate students of the Class of 2021, along with 220 members of the Class of 2020, will attend the commencement ceremonies, according to an email sent out by President Hammond on March 16.
Commencement schedule
The schedule for the four in-person ceremonies are as follow:
- 10 a.m. on May 8 – School of Business and Entrepreneurship
- 3 p.m. on May 8 – School of Education and Health Sciences
- 10 a.m. on May 9 – College of Arts and Sciences: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Shimer Great Books and Interdisciplinary Programs
- 3 p.m. on May 9 – College of Arts and Sciences: Sciences
Health and safety protocols
In-person commencement is planned to be in compliance with the CDC and Restore Illinois Phase 4 guidelines for outdoor events. There will be around 200 graduates attending each ceremony and they will be physically distanced on the field. Each graduate will also receive four tickets for family members to attend in person. Families will be in the stadium seats in socially-distanced sections. All participants will be required to wear a mask.
According to Reynolds, there are currently no plans for a virtual ceremony, unless Illinois reverts to Phase 3. There will, however, be a live stream of the ceremonies for online viewing.
The ceremonies will not be moved indoors if there is inclement weather. Adjustments to any ceremony’s start times will be communicated via the commencement website, the College’s social media channels and the RAVE alert system.
Student reactions
Isabella Ayala, ‘21, did not think there would be in-person ceremonies.
“I’m still kind of expecting it to be moved online, to be honest,” said Ayala.
However, she is excited to be able to wear a cap and gown, the Cardinal First stole and be with her friends.
Davin Allen, ‘20, is currently a graduate assistant for the first-generation programs at NCC. He and others were hopeful that an in-person ceremony for the Class of 2020 would have been sooner than anticipated. He said, at first, he was sad because his grandmother was supposed to see him graduate last year.
“She’s the most important one,” Allen said. “She’s been the one supporting me over the last, now, five years.”
Luckily for Allen, his grandmother will be able to see him walk across the stage in person in a couple of weeks.
