DeAnna Gilles – Staff Writer

The pandemic has forced many people into a state of uncertainty. On the positive side, the class of 2021 commencement will be held in-person with your fellow classmates.
When will the Class of 2021 Commencement take place?
This year’s commencement celebrating the achievements of Gustavus seniors will be held on the morning of Thursday, May 13. The ceremony will be live streamed for parents and family to attend virtually. A recording of the ceremony will be broadcast on Saturday, May 15. The ceremony will continue to be available for viewing by our graduates, family, and friends in the days following May 15.
The livestream will allow students to safely host graduation parties or celebrate this momentous occasion by playing the recording in the background or fast forwarding to moments of special significance.
“Students who may safely host graduation parties or celebrate this momentous occasion can put the recording on in the background or fast forward to the premiere moments,” said President Bergman.
Are guests allowed at commencement?
Gustavus has been diligently working with the Minnesota Department of Health to provide the class of 2021 with a memorable celebration. Due to their guidelines, no guests, including friends and family, will be allowed at the ceremony. Representatives from academic departments will be present to celebrate with the graduates.
Current plans have the commencement ceremony being held indoors. Some may wonder if guests could attend if commencement is held outdoors, however Minnesota Department of Health is recommending that the college limit attendance to students only. Gustavus will continue to monitor regulations and are considering the possibility of moving outdoors and allowing guests if conditions permit us to do so.
How “normal” will the commencement feel?
This year’s commencement will be held completely in-person inside the Lund Forum which is our largest indoor space here on campus. This will include the opportunity to walk across the commencement platform, hear the Class of 2021 speaker, wear robes and throw caps in the air, and be acknowledged for your accomplishments by representatives of the Gustavus faculty. While we hope we can have one ceremony with the entire senior class, we cannot say for certain whether there will be one ceremony or two due to MDH guidelines for physical distancing and other COVID-19 safety precautions.
In the past, the indoor backup space for bad weather has been in the hockey arena. Hosting commencement inside the forum is more practical for compliance with social distancing. According to current guidelines, students will be asked to maintain six feet of distance from each other and 12 feet distance from faculty and administrators in order for everyone to safely convene in one space.
When will graduates receive their diplomas?
The Minnesota Department of Health advises people to avoid close contact interactions. With this in mind, diplomas will not be handed to students during the ceremony. Also, due to the timing of the commencement ceremony, diplomas will not be ready for release. Students will receive their diploma cover during the ceremony and the actual diploma in the mail as soon as they are printed.
What will happen if COVID cases rise before commencement?
First thing would be to have two ceremonies splitting the class in half. This allows more space between students and faculty. If crowds are limited due to an increase in cases, it will be decided whether to completely hold commencement virtually.
Hopefully this information will enable Gusties to transition from a state of uncertainty to hope. It does feel like the college turned the corner as vaccinations are accelerating, and more people are having an opportunity to be vaccinated and our case numbers are going down.
“I’m really excited to be able to finish out your senior year with events that recognize the class as a whole. And because the pandemic has pushed us into smaller social circles and restrictions, I’m just grateful we’re going to be able to host an event where we can celebrate the class of 2021 together,” President Bergman said.
Gustavus is offering a tuition-free ninth semester to those who need an extra term to complete their degree requirements. Students must be a first-year, transfer, or returning student who is enrolled full-time at Gustavus throughout the 2020-2021 academic year. More information can be found on the Gustavus website.
Senior week activities are currently being worked on and more information will be released soon. Continue to look out for emails with more information on the Class of 2021 Commencement celebration.