Message to Faculty and Emeriti Regarding Commencement Participation

Dear Faculty and Emeriti Faculty Members:

I write today to invite you to participate in the in-person Commencement weekend activities. I hope that you will all join the University community as we gather to celebrate the Class of 2021.

Commencement events that will be held in person include the following:

Commencement #1

• Saturday, May 22, at 4 p.m. – Undergraduate Ceremony
  (School of Architecture; College of Arts and Sciences; Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs; Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics; School of Education; University College)

Commencement #2

• Sunday, May 23, at 9 a.m. – Undergraduate Ceremony
  (College of Engineering and Computer Science; School of Information Studies; Whitman School of Management; Newhouse School of Public Communications; College of Visual and Performing Arts)

Commencement #3

• Sunday, May 23, at 3:30 p.m. – Graduate and Law Ceremony
  (All school and college graduate ceremony)

As you are aware, this year’s events will be very different from past Commencement weekends. As part of our contract tracing efforts, all faculty and staff participants will be asked to register to attend. Please register no later than close of business on Friday, May 14, for any of the above events.

Accessing the Stadium

New York State has mandated very specific guidelines related to stadium entry and participation in Commencement-related events, for all graduates, guests and participants. The state requires that anyone accessing the stadium for Commencement must comply with one of the following options:

• Provide proof of completed vaccination; proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR-type test, administered within 72 hours of the event; or proof of a negative COVID-19 antigen-type test, administered within six hours of the event start time.

Pre-Screening

To support a safe and efficient entry experience into the stadium, we will establish a pre-event compliance station that will open on campus beginning at noon ET on Thursday, May 20. At this station, faculty and staff can have their COVID-compliance documents verified in advance of the weekend’s Commencement activities and be issued a unique pass allowing for significantly expedited access to the stadium on the day of Commencement.

• Students, faculty and staff: Daily walk-up sessions at Schine.
  • Thursday, May 20, from noon to 5 p.m.
  • Friday, May 21, and Saturday, May 22, from noon-3 p.m.

• Guests, students, faculty and staff: Daily drive-through sessions in Manley North parking lot.
  • Thursday, May 20; Friday, May 21, and Saturday, May 22, from 4-7 p.m.

We strongly encourage you to participate in pre-verification. All faculty and staff who are not pre-verified will be required to have their vaccine or testing documentation reviewed and approved on site at the stadium.

Logistics

Pre-registered faculty and staff participants may enter Gate C and proceed directly to Club 44 (please note, this is a different location than in year’s past). Faculty and staff should arrive between 45 to 90 minutes prior to the start of each ceremony.

Note that all faculty participants will process as in years past and will be seated with 6 feet of social distancing between colleagues. More information will follow in the coming weeks. You can find more details at commencement.syr.edu and once registered, you will receive updates as more information becomes available.

I thank you for your participation as we come together to mark this important milestone for our graduates.

Sincerely,

John Liu
Interim Vice Chancellor and Provost