16 ceremonies ÷ 8 days = 157th Commencement
More than 6,400 students plan to participate in the ceremonies either in person or virtually.
Heather Lukach, assistant vice president for presidential events and university ceremonies
The 157th Commencement main campus ceremonies will take place May 11-18 at multiple venues, including Arizona Stadium.
The 74,000-square-foot Cole and Jeannie Davis Sports Center – an indoor, climate-controlled athletics practice facility – will be home to eight ceremonies.
The Cole and Jeannie Davis Sports Center opened in February 2019.
After an all-virtual Commencement in 2020, University leaders were determined to find a way to celebrate graduating students in person this year, knowing that safety hurdles presented by the COVID-19 pandemic would require them to get creative.
The result is an undertaking unlike the University has ever attempted before: 16 ceremonies in 8 days.
The 157th Commencement ceremonies will take place May 11-18 at Arizona Stadium and the Cole and Jeannie Davis Sports Center. Two additional ceremonies will happen on the Phoenix Biomedical Campus and at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Yuma.
Unfortunately, the much-loved commencement fireworks show will not happen this year. But other traditional elements are returning, including faculty in regalia and speakers giving live or recorded remarks.
Of the nearly 7,200 students eligible to participate in Commencement, more than 6,400 have signed up to participate in the ceremonies either in person or virtually. (Read about a few outstanding graduates on UANews.)
Heather Lukach, assistant vice president for presidential events and university ceremonies, has led the effort to ensure that students, faculty, staff and volunteers can participate safely. She spoke with Lo Que Pasa about the monumental effort.
Why was it important to find a way to hold commencement ceremonies in person?
Commencement is an official tradition recognizing many years of hard work, sacrifice and accomplishment in a student's academic journey. It also marks the beginning of a new path, whether it be pursuing a career in their selected field, or the continuation of their studies. The pandemic has brought so much uncertainty and many challenges, but it has not changed our commitment to mark this achievement in the lives of our graduates. It was important as a campus community to navigate and find a way to host an in-person celebration, if at all possible.
What went into the decision-making process?
Over the past months, we monitored public health conditions and engaged our students, partners and stakeholders through meetings, surveys and continual communications. We strived to find a way to celebrate students in May as safely as possible in person, using the safety protocols and best practices available to us.
The majority of students we heard from wanted something in person as safely as possible with an option for those who could not attend in person. Graduating students were open to changes and modifications to the traditional Commencement format. The students noted the importance of individual recognition and value to be recognized among their peers. This feedback helped us as we designed a series of 16 modified and personalized ceremonies spread over eight days that combine elements of the college convocations and the main commencement ceremony. All of them will be streamed live on the University's Commencement site.
What was the most challenging part of organizing Commencement this year?
It's hard to rank the challenges. Implementing the mitigation strategies on such a large scale was certainly among them. One of the largest, and most rewarding, parts of the effort was pulling together leadership and coordinators from colleges throughout the University to finalize plans and logistics for a week's worth of ceremonies. As I said, we were determined to make this happen if it was at all possible. This whole effort has shown the campus community's commitment to our University values, like adaptation – in staying open-minded and working with partners to move forward – and determination, in showing real grit to make the decision to move forward with in-person ceremonies. And, of course, compassion. We wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't for wanting to recognize and celebrate our students.
What can attendees expect as far as safety protocols and procedures?
For students, faculty, staff and volunteers, we are requiring testing ahead of their designated ceremony. Face coverings are required to attend, and seating and interactions such as check-in and walking across the stage will be socially distanced. Additional cleaning will also occur between ceremonies.
For guests, they will be asked to complete the Wildcat WellCheck for Visitors before they arrive at their ceremony, face coverings are required to participate and seating in each venue will be socially distanced.
Is there anything else attendees should know before coming to celebrate the graduates?
We are grateful a limited number of guests – up to four per graduate – can attend the ceremonies, and we ask for help in creating a safe atmosphere for all. While there will be no fireworks this year, there will be tradition, pomp and circumstance, and we will be together in person to celebrate the Class of 2021.
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