Faculty and Staff,
The following message has been sent to the Class of 2020 regarding their graduation ceremony.
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Graduate Students in the Class of 2020,
Thank you to the graduate members of the Class of 2020 who completed the survey on graduation options and to those who zoomed together on Tuesday afternoon to discuss celebrating your graduation and how to best recognize your achievements.
Based on this session and the results of last week’s survey among your fellow grads, we are going to proceed with planning to hold an in-person ceremony(ies*) in Potsdam in August.
At the zoom session when explaining the need to separate out the undergraduate and graduate ceremonies to help meet anticipated directives and guidance from NYS on event sizes, CUGSA requested to organize a separate graduation ceremony for grad students either on August 8, the evening of August 14 or in the morning of August 15. This would also include virtual recognition. CUGSA is also hoping to hold a small reception at a local venue afterwards.
New 2020 alumni who want to join another in person ceremony will continue to have that option (October 10 in Schenectady, fall semester grads on Tuesday, November 24, or May 2021 ceremony).
PLEASE COMPLETE THIS SURVEY BY 6/21 8PM TO CONFIRM THESE OPTIONS APPEAL TO YOU.
In the next two months, we will be making plans that meet current and future guidance scenarios outlined by New York State. While we hope NYS guidelines evolve to offer graduation in one ceremony, we will be coordinating with local public health officials to get ready to host the maximum number of people in an appropriate venue and allowed to participate in the ceremony or multiple ceremonies on that date to ensure everyone’s safety –for your safety and those you care about in your family and those who have been in service to you who want to mark this occasion with you.
Based on survey responses and commentary to ensure safety, members of the grad class of 2020 traveling in for the ceremony who requested housing will have a process to request to redeem a hotel night on Friday night (or camp site) in the North Country region, valued up to $150. A list of hotels that are holding rooms for Clarkson graduation ceremonies will be issued soon.
The interim guidance from NYS on graduations requires these to be outside, so we are currently planning to bring a stage and seating to the Hamlin-Powers lawn. With the exception of access to designated restrooms, all other Clarkson facilities will be closed. We appreciate your understanding of the fluid nature of the reopening process through Forward New York in working with local restaurants/venues and together we are committed to offering a memorable experience for all graduates who participate.
We will use your Clarkson emails on the list “Class_of_2020-grads” to continue our communications on preparations.
If you plan to participate in the Commencement ceremony or you would like your regalia as a momento, remember to reorder by June 29. https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/customer/1022652/Clarkson-University/ All regalia orders placed before COVID were cancelled and will need to be reordered. Jostens adjusted their website giving all graduates the option of shipping the regalia to Clarkson for pick-up or having it shipped directly to your home when you reorder.
We send our well wishes on your continued safety, wellness and pursuit of what’s next.
Survey Link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScn9vRwXLIJ4_akgM8icsU5CHa3WjqzVoYWsKmcg9JzHlfLUA/viewform
