OSU Institute of Technology will celebrate the 216th graduating class in Covelle Hall on Wednesday, September 16, 2020, with ceremonies at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the celebration of graduates has been modified to deliver an event that holds the same traditions of pomp and circumstance with the safety and well-being of the campus community in mind.
“We have been facing challenging times during this pandemic, but even though we are unable to welcome friends and family to our campus, we still want to honor our students,” said Dr. Bill R. Path, president of OSUIT. “Modifications to the ceremonies allow our graduates to walk across the stage and acknowledge their great achievement and time spent at OSUIT while keeping safety a priority.”
For the 2020 summer graduation, commencement exercises will be held as private functions only with no guests; Covelle Hall will be closed to the public, and only graduating students and the platform party will be permitted entry.
All ceremonies, however, will be streamed live to the OSUIT Facebook page and made available for on-demand viewing on OState.TV so that friends and family may see their graduate crossing the stage and share in that moment.
Changes to the staging and processionals will also be made to enforce social distancing, such as spaced seating and the requirement of facial coverings. All graduates will be provided an OSUIT facial covering for the ceremony. Other contactless options will be integrated into the overall experience.
Spring 2020 graduates have been invited to walk for the summer commencement ceremonies if they choose to do so but must RSVP online prior to September 11.
OSUIT’s Institutional Event Planning Committee, in coordination with the Pandemic Response Team, is meeting regularly to monitor and assess the situation in accordance with local and national health guidance.
For more information or updates regarding the 216th commencement ceremonies, please visit osuit.edu/commencement.