Michigan State University plans to hold special in-person commencement ceremonies for its class of 2020.
Graduation events were cancelled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The ceremonies will be held in mid-September at MSU’s Jack Breslin Student Events Center.
The university says there were nearly 14,000 graduates across the spring, summer and fall semesters in 2020 who missed the typical commencement experience.
“Last year, we were all incredibly disappointed to not be able to celebrate together in person the incredible graduates. While we did present virtual options, we realize it was difficult for many of the graduates and their families to not gather together in person,” MSU President Samuel L. Stanley Jr. said in a statement Tuesday.
“We are proud of each and every Spartan graduate and look forward to the positive impacts they will make with their outstanding MSU education.”
MSU resumed in-person commencement ceremoniesfor the first time since the start of the pandemic in April.
More than 50 events celebrating graduates were held outdoors across three weekends, with health protocols such as social distancing and mask wearing in place.
Graduates in all degree levels are invited to September’s ceremonies, along with certain students who completed their degrees earlier this year.
Graduates from this year’s summer semester can either join in on the September events or take part in the fall 2021 ceremonies in December.
The events will take place on September 17-20 and will be live-streamed on MSU’s commencement website.
