CASPER, Wyo — The University of Wyoming announced Thursday it would hold some face-to-face ceremonies in addition to a livestream for its 2021 spring commencement.
“As we heard from so many soon-to-be graduates and their families regarding their desire to have an in-person graduation experience…we took another look at the situation and decided it would be possible to offer smaller, shorter, in-person ceremonies while maintaining our COVID-19 requirements,” UW President Ed Seidel said.
He added that the university is seeing ongoing success in managing the spread of the virus.
“Up to four abbreviated, in-person ceremonies will be conducted in the Arena-Auditorium, with each graduate allowed a limited number of guest tickets,” UW said.
Social distancing and face masks “will be observed” in the seating of both the graduates and their guests.
The ceremony is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, May 14-15.
Graduates also will have the opportunity to participate in commencement virtually, as the university announced previously.
“While these events have to be modified from the full traditional ceremony that is one of our annual highlights at UW, this approach will give those graduates who desire it an opportunity to walk across the stage and be recognized for their achievements.”
The ceremonies each will feature an abbreviated program of speakers, followed by the awarding of degrees. There will be no processional or recessional, and the stage party will be limited. The facility will be thoroughly cleaned between ceremonies.
Students who wish to participate will have to RSVP by the specified deadlines to allow for appropriate planning in advance of the ceremonies. More information is available here and at www.uwyo.edu/commencement.