2021 Commencement Update
Dear Members of the Class of 2021,
We write to you today with some good news regarding our Commencement plans for the Class of 2021: you will have the opportunity to invite two guests to the Friday, June 11 in-person celebration of this year’s commencement.
With the improvements in the public health situation locally and in California as well as the easing of certain restrictions, we are committed to hosting an experience that will be festive and meaningful—as well as safe— to celebrate this special milestone with your loved ones.
To ensure necessary public health measures including social distancing, we have made the following adjustments to what was communicated on April 1:
- Each student choosing to attend the previously announced June 11 in-person celebration will be able to invite two guests to join them in the procession. Advance registration for all attendees - students and guests - is required.
- Graduates will be joined by their guests for the procession during their confirmed time slot (8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., or 12:30 p.m.). During each designated window, participants will process (socially distanced) to Mission Gardens through campus with their guests, cross a stage as their name is read, receive their diploma cover, have professional photos taken, then rejoin their guests.
- To comply with state and SCU requirements, guests from out of state or abroad will be required to be fully vaccinated and will be asked to show proof of vaccination when checking in on-site. Students and guests already on campus or traveling from within the state of California will complete SCU’s Daily Symptom Check on the day of the event. Please also note that California’s Travel Advisory strongly discourages out-of-state travelers from coming into the state unless fully vaccinated.
- Face coverings will be required regardless of vaccination status for everyone, per state guidelines for large gatherings. Graduates will be permitted to take off their face coverings for photos upon receiving their diploma cover.
- Any guests, students or personnel who are feeling ill or have symptoms of COVID-19, or have potentially been exposed to someone with COVID-19, should not attend the in-person events.
- Festive ‘selfie/photo stations’ will be placed in numerous locations on campus and along the procession route so students and their guests can capture their graduation moment.
- The in-person celebrations (all time slots) will still be broadcast live online, to allow extended family and friends to view this portion of the Commencement experience.
We will continue to monitor public health requirements to keep you, our graduates, your families and our community safe. Please refer to the FAQs posted on the Commencement website to get more information. And continue to look for additional important details and updates coming to your email soon including how to pre-register your two guests (only pre-registered guests can attend on June 11).
The plans for a Virtual Commencement on Saturday, June 12 at noon-1 (starting at 11:30 a.m. for the pre-show) remain unchanged. Virtual Commencement will be a festive online event featuring guest speakers, student awards, a virtual conferring of degrees, and valedictory address. It will allow all members of the Class of 2021, their family and friends to participate safely in a celebration honoring the achievements of each graduate. A detailed schedule of events will be posted in the coming days on the Commencement website.
Although this plan for your commencement is not the full experience Santa Clara typically hosts, we feel it balances public health with the importance of marking this tremendous milestone with your loved ones. This celebration will mark the end of your most extraordinary academic journey with a memorable way to honor all your achievements.
Never in our collective memories have our graduates persevered through so much, while showing remarkable resilience and compassion for one another, to come to this joyous moment. We could not be more proud of you, our seniors, and we look forward to celebrating together in six weeks.
Stay safe and go Broncos!
Lisa A. Kloppenberg
Acting President
Naren Agrawal
Interim Dean, Leavey School of Business
Daniel Press
Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
Elaine P. Scott
Dean, School of Engineering