While the COVID-19 public health situation requires us to adjust the logistics of the occasion in several ways, we are committed to celebrating your achievements and bonds of belonging in the safest way possible in April.
- In early March, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, unexpectedly and helpfully, announced upcoming adjustments to large-gathering guidelines that will allow St. Lawrence to alter its Commencement setting and date.
- To assure adequate time for both the completion of finals and to celebrate the accomplishments of the senior class, the graduation ceremony has been moved to Sunday, April 18, 2021.
- There will now be four sequential ceremonies on April 18 spaced throughout the day in Newell Field House.
- Graduates will be assigned a graduation time of 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., or 3 p.m. based upon their family units. Each ceremony will be limited by state regulations to 150 people, all wearing masks seated at least 6-feet apart.
- Graduates will all walk across the stage and have their names announced. The entire event will be broadcast via livestream for remote viewing by our St. Lawrence families. We will post recordings of each ceremony in the days after the ceremony.
- Most of the Commencement program will be conducted virtually to assure quality consistency among the four separate events.
- The State of NY guidelines on large gatherings and the capacity of our facilities make it impossible for us to accommodate guests at the ceremony.
- All seniors must be tested for COVID-19 on April 13 or April 14 to participate and present negative results.
- Current remote seniors or December graduates must also follow our arrival protocols to protect our campus community.
- Since exams end on Friday, April 16, faculty need time to grade and therefore honors will be calculated after Commencement. Diplomas will be mailed to students’ homes after grades are entered for the Spring 2021 semester.
- Saturday, April 17 will be Class Day, an old American college tradition for seniors to mark and celebrate their time together. It will include activities and programming arranged in a collaboration between the Class of 2021 and Student Life professionals; this day must also adhere to all COVID-19 safety and gathering restrictions. Failure to do so would put in jeopardy the following day’s Commencement.