Marietta College Schedules Makeup Commencement For Class Of 2020

MARIETTA, OH — Marietta College is going to hold a makeup commencement for the class of 2020, a year after it was originally scheduled. It will now take place on May 2, the day after the commencement for the class of 2021.

Live in Marietta? Click here to subscribe to our free breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox and mobile devices. Follow Marietta Patch on Facebook and Twitter, and download our free Patch mobile app on Android or iPhone.

Tom Perry, Marietta College’s Vice President of Communications and Brand Management, said this is the soonest they could have safely done it. “With all of the rules and regulations surrounding COVID-19, it sort of made it impossible to have it any earlier.” Almost every graduation last year was virtual, Marietta College’s was no exception. Perry says the idea is to give the class of 2020 what they didn’t get last year, this year.

Perry said that while we all know a virtual graduation isn’t the same, the faculty didn’t want to do nothing. He says this is making good on a promise they made to students last year, to have an in-person graduation.

There will still be restrictions. Every returning graduate will only be able to have a maximum of four guests. “We have to manage the number of people there. It will still be a masked event.” The seats will be distanced. Normally they would prepare for about 2,000 guests, this time it looks like it’ll be less than half of that. There will be no band or choir. On stage, there will only be the college president, the provost, and the speaker. Normally there would be a number of other faculty members there too. Also, no shaking hands when receiving a diploma this time.

Right now, the school is working on figuring out how many students who graduated last year, will even be able to make their commencement. “They’ve gone off in their lives now. They’re either in grad school, they’ve started jobs, gotten married, they’re doing all kinds of things.” Perry said the school would love to see every 2020 graduate return to graduate. He is hopeful that as many students who can return, will. “It’s an opportunity to have some closure to their experience.”

Have a news tip or suggestion on how I can improve Marietta Patch? Maybe you're interested in having your business become one of our latest sponsors? Email any and all inquiries to me at christopher.schmitt@patch.com