UP is planning an in-person Spring 2022 commencement, Acting President and Provost Herbert Medina announced at the academic senate meeting on Oct. 19. It would be the first in-person commencement since 2019, with the last two being held virtually because of COVID-19.
Commencement will be held over the course of three ceremonies instead of the usual two.
“The motivation for holding three commencements is to de-densify the Chiles Center,” Medina said. “We want to make sure that there’s the de-densification plans already in place, and then it would allow for more tickets to be made available to students - that continues to be a challenge at all our events and ceremonies.”
These changes went through both the Provost Council as well as the Executive Committee of the academic senate.
Medina stated that there will still be a livestream of each of the commencement ceremonies. He also noted that these changes to the commencement schedule are only applicable to 2022 and will be re-assessed for future commencement ceremonies.
Tentative Spring 2022 Commencement dates
April 30:
School of Nursing commencement and pinning ceremony in the afternoon.
May 1:
Shiley School of Engineering and Pamplin School of Business commencement at 10 a.m. College of Arts and Sciences and School of Education commencement at 2 p.m.
Janea Melido is a reporter for The Beacon. She can be reached at melido24@up.edu.
