Stanford Announces Plans For Limited In-Person Graduation Events

PALO ALTO, CA — As health emergency conditions improve around the region and the number of confirmed coronavirus cases drop, Stanford University administrators announced Tuesday that the school will hold in-person graduation ceremonies in June.

University President Marc Tessier-Lavigne announced the decision in an online letter to the Stanford community. However, while graduation will be held in-person, Tessier-Lavigne said that as the global pandemic continues, the ceremony will look different than usual to accommodate health regulations.

Tessier-Lavigne cited California health officials’ recent guidance on outdoor graduation ceremonies and out-of-state visitors for the reason why administrators had decided to hold the limited in-person celebration in June.

“We are committed to a Commencement experience that, while imperfect in some respects, is fun, meaningful and safe, contingent on the public health orders in place at the time,” he wrote on Tuesday. “We have consulted with student leaders, who have expressed their enthusiasm to proceed despite the constraints.”

The school will host two ceremonies, including one for advanced-degree students on June 12 and a second for graduating seniors on June 13. Each graduating student will be provided with two tickets.

The school announced that those attending from out of state must be fully vaccinated. In-state guests as well as students will have to either be fully vaccinated or provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test, officials said. Face-coverings will be required and seating for the ceremonies will be socially distanced and pre-assigned.

School officials said that while graduation will be held in-person, other events — including school and departmental gatherings — will be held virtually. The school also announced it is looking at adjustments to other commencement activities which may need to be COVID-appropriate, the school’s president wrote. School officials also announced that a ceremony for 2020 graduates – who could not go through commencement exercises last year due to the pandemic – will be held at a later date.

“We are well aware that this plan is not the full Commencement experience that we all would like to have,” Tessier-Lavigne said. “We deeply regret that some members of our community may not be able to join in person. However, after careful consideration of the situation and with health precautions and state regulations firmly in mind, we believe this is the best path forward and we are excited to celebrate with our graduates.”