Commencement 2020 Update Due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak
Dear Students,
As previously announced, this year’s Commencement ceremony will not take place at the Prudential Center on Friday, May 8, 2020, due to social distancing directives by federal and state officials. After careful consideration on how to best recognize all of our graduates, the Student Development and Campus Life (SDCL) team has recommended an integrated virtual ceremony to take place in June 2020.
On a June date to be announced soon, a virtual Commencement ceremony will be shared electronically with our graduates. Prior to that date, graduates will have an opportunity to customize their own Commencement slide with personalized videos, messages, and photos that can be uploaded virtually.
Once the virtual ceremony is launched in June, graduates will also be able to download their portion of the virtual ceremony to share on social media and with their family and friends.
I am pleased to announce that El-Mehdi Bendriss of the Woodland Park campus has been selected as the Student Speaker, Dr. Gloria Davy of the Humanities and Social Sciences faculty has been selected as the Faculty Speaker, and Josephine Cornacchia of the Woodland Park campus is this year’s Outstanding Student Award recipient.
Please refer to the 2020 Commencement webpage, https://berkeleycollege.edu/commencement/index.html, if you have any questions. The webpage includes a Frequently Asked Questions document that addresses diploma, fee, and other questions. Graduates will receive a full refund of the $100 graduation fee. If you have any additional questions, please contact your campus SDCL representative.
Importantly, any graduate who was scheduled to walk across the stage this year (Spring 2019, Fall 2019, and Winter 2020 graduates) will additionally be permitted to participate in the 2021 Commencement ceremony at the Prudential Center.
We know that this is not the ideal solution for those who have looked forward to crossing the stage this May. Given the current circumstances, we believe this is the best solution at this time. Your safety is always our top priority.
Congratulations to all of our graduates on your academic achievement!
Sincerely,
Dallas Reed, Ph.D.Vice President
Office of Student Development and Campus Life
