Quinnipiac University Announces Commencement Ceremonies

Quinnipiac University President Judy Olian announced today that the university will hold separate commencement ceremonies outside on the Quad on the Mount Carmel Campus for both the Class of 2020 and Class of 2021. Here is a link to the page with the details.

We’re excited to announce that we will hold Class of 2021 and Class of 2020 Commencement ceremonies in-person outside! Thanks to improvements in community COVID-19 rates and changes in state guidelines, ceremonies will take place on the Quad of the Mount Carmel Campus and each graduate will be allowed to invite 2 guests.

President Olian’s letters to the Class of 2020 and the Class of 2021 are below.

March 10, 2021

Dear Class of 2021 Graduates and Families:
Commencement is a joyous and memorable celebration for our community, and marks the culmination of years of dedication and accomplishments of our students. It is an unforgettable rite of passage as we celebrate the beginning of the next chapter of our graduates’ professional or academic lives.

All of us – graduating students, their families, our faculty and staff – have always preferred an in-person ceremony, with guests. Now, with improvements in the community COVID rates and changes in State of Connecticut guidelines, we are able to do so.

I am delighted to announce that we will hold the Class of 2021 Commencement ceremonies outside, on the Quad of the Mount Carmel Campus, and allow each graduate to invite up to two guests.

The addition of guests necessitated an update to the Commencement schedule since the original dates of some ceremonies coincided with the end-of-the-semester move-out process, with the associated traffic and logistical challenges. Please see below dates of Commencement events*. We recognize, with sincere apologies, that for many families mid-week Commencement ceremonies may be less convenient than a weekend event. However, given the advantages of an in-person event and the need to address logistical challenges, we hope you can plan accordingly.

The following guidelines are established in order to protect the health and safety of the community:

• Graduating students are invited to bring a maximum of two guests to Commencement.
• Tickets will be needed to access the Quad, and access will be strictly limited to two guests due to health-related space restrictions.
• Additional guests can participate remotely through a virtual streaming of the ceremony.
• Ceremonies will be held rain or shine outside (indoor capacity limits preclude inclusion of guests).
• In the event of inclement weather and to provide optimal viewing for our guests, umbrellas will not be allowed. We recommend guests bring a rain jacket or poncho, in the event of rain.
• All seating will be on a flat grassy area that is wheelchair accessible.

The following health and safety protocols will be in place during the Commencement ceremonies:

• Masks are to be worn at all times.
• Guest seating will be in pairs, six feet apart, and appropriate physical distancing will be maintained at all times.
• Attendees will be instructed to complete a symptom checking process the day of the event.

Guest tickets will be accessed electronically through graduating students’ QU account in the next few weeks. Tickets are not transferrable.

We appreciate your patience as we plan for this outdoor ceremony. The Commencement website, commencement.qu.edu, will be updated on an ongoing basis, and additional information will be shared through email. Any questions can be submitted to the Commencement Committee at quevents@qu.edu.

We eagerly await the celebration of this unforgettable milestone with you and your families.

Sincerely,

Judy Olian
President

*Please note: These plans are predicated on current Connecticut health guidelines and COVID rates in the community. Should health conditions decline, we may need to adjust Commencement plans accordingly.
Commencement Ceremony Schedule
Saturday, May 8

• Undergraduate School of Health Sciences at 9 a.m.
• Graduate School of Health Sciences at 1 p.m.
• Undergraduate and Graduate School of Nursing at 5 p.m.

Sunday, May 9

• School of Education at 9 a.m.
• Undergraduate and Graduate College of Arts and Sciences at 1 p.m.
• Undergraduate and Graduate School of Communications at 5 p.m.

Monday, May 10

• Undergraduate School of Business and School of Engineering at 1 p.m.
• Graduate School of Business and Graduate School of Engineering at 5 p.m.

Tuesday, May 11

• School of Medicine at 1 p.m.
• School of Law at 5 p.m.

March 10, 2021

Dear Class of 2020:
As we revisit your graduation of 2020, we seek to relive the joyous and memorable celebration of Commencement, marking the culmination of years of dedication and accomplishments at Quinnipiac University. Sadly, COVID forced us to shift the plans for Commencement 2020 last year. However, all of us – graduating students, your families, our faculty and staff have always preferred an in-person ceremony, with guests. Now, happily, with improvements in the community COVID rates and changes in the State of Connecticut guidelines, we are able to do so. Therefore, we are moving Commencement 2020 to an in-person event.

I am delighted to invite our Class of 2020 graduates to return to campus for in-person Commencement ceremonies outside, on the Quad of the Mount Carmel Campus, and for each graduate to invite up to 2 guests.

The ceremonies will take place the weekend of May 15-16, 2021*. Precise arrangements will depend on the size of the attending graduating class. Please see schedule below. In order to set the time of graduation, we ask that you indicate your plans for attendance.

Please register here by March 20th if you plan to attend your in-person Commencement. Once we know the size of the attending class, we will send out further information on ceremony times.
The following guidelines are established to protect the health and safety of the community:

• Graduates are invited to bring a maximum of two guests to Commencement.

• Tickets will be needed to access the Quad, and access will be strictly limited to two guests due to health-related space restrictions.

• Ceremonies will be held rain or shine outside (indoor capacity limits preclude inclusion of guests).

• In the event of inclement weather and to provide optimal viewing for our guests, no umbrellas will be allowed. We recommend guests bring a rain coat or poncho, in the event of rain.

• All seating will be on a flat grassy area that is wheelchair accessible.

The following health and safety protocols will be in place during the Commencement ceremonies:

• Masks are to be worn at all times.

• Guest seating will be in pairs, six feet apart, and appropriate physical distancing will be maintained at all times.

• Attendees will be instructed to complete a symptom checking process the day of the event.

Graduate and guests tickets will be accessed electronically through our graduates QU accounts in the next few weeks. Tickets are not transferrable. We will send further information on accessing your tickets.

We appreciate your patience as we plan for this outdoor ceremony. The Commencement website (2020commencement.qu.edu) will be updated on an ongoing basis, and additional information will be shared through email. Any questions can be submitted to the Commencement Committee at quevents@qu.edu.
We eagerly await welcoming you back to Quinnipiac for the celebration of this unforgettable milestone with you and your families.
Sincerely,

Judy Olian
President
*Please note: These plans are predicated on current Connecticut health guidelines and COVID rates in the community. Should health conditions decline, we may need to adjust Commencement plans accordingly.
Ceremony Schedule
Saturday, May 15
College of Arts and Sciences
School of Business
School of Communications
School of Engineering
School of Education
Sunday, May 16
School of Health Sciences
School of Nursing