Commencement 2020
Dear Members of Santa Clara’s Class of 2020,
A campus email regarding Commencement will soon be sent to the entire SCU community. In advance of that broad communication, we wanted to write to the senior class directly to share the news below.
In short, given the ongoing health crisis in our area and the likelihood that large public gatherings will continue to be prohibited in the near future, the university will postpone all Commencement exercises until a time when we can gather again. We do not know when that will be. A working group of graduating senior class members, university staff, and faculty will be composed in the next few weeks to brainstorm options and get input from you. More on that later.
While other universities are reaching the same conclusion, we know that this is sad and disappointing news for our students. We will miss the traditional ways we gather and celebrate. We will miss saying goodbye in person. We will miss introducing our families and friends to one another.
But we are also resilient and hopeful. This is not the first time in Santa Clara’s 169 year history that Commencement was cancelled or postponed, but it is our time. While our last few months on campus are defined by the pandemic, it does not capture all of who we are and what our time together has meant. We have more to learn and more to share with each other. We will get through this period of time with creativity, generosity, and care for one another.
We hope that you and your families are safe and well.
Take care,
Kevin O’Brien, S.J.
President, Santa Clara University
Sahil Sagar
President, Associated Student Government