University of Mississippi to hold virtual celebration for 2020 graduates

Published 5:02 pm Monday, April 20, 2020

The University of Mississippi’s 2020 Commencement ceremony is still postponed due to COVID-19, but the school has announced plans to still honor its graduates next month.

The University will hold a live, virtual event on May 9 at noon CT, the day Commencement was originally scheduled to take place in the Grove and across campus.

“The university remains committed to doing all it can to honor our graduates in person when it is safe for us to come together as a university community,” read a letter from chancellor Glenn Boyce to the University community. “And, while we aren’t able to gather in the Grove and at other beautiful venues on our campus right now for traditional pomp and circumstance, we could not let our originally scheduled Commencement Day pass without recognizing the incredible achievements, character and spirit of this class of graduates.”

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As part of the virtual celebration, all graduates will be sent an official cap and tassle from the University, which will be mailed as part of a “grad pack,” along with other items.

The University is also creating a collection of virtual mementos to recognize the entire Class of 2020. There will be stories, photos, personalized online announcements and a digital commencement program that will be available.

“We are a community that enjoys celebrating with each other on our beautiful campus and in our wonderful city of Oxford,” Boyce’s letter continued. “While we are unable to that at this time, it does not diminish how meaningful this moment is in the lives of our graduates and how hard they worked to get here.”

The final details of the event are still being worked out by the University, but graduates will be provided information in the coming weeks, according to Boyce’s letter. The event on May 9 is not serving as a replacement of the in-person Commencement ceremony and University officials are still exploring possible dates for an in-person event to take place.