Commencement
147th COMMENCEMENT UPDATES:
MEMO DATE: April 8, 2020
Dear Graduating Students,
We have some great news for you—We are announcing the following plans regarding the 147th Commencement ceremonies, originally scheduled for May 9, will now be held October 29th and 30th as part of Shepherd’s Homecoming festivities.
May 2020 Virtual Celebration!
As previously messaged, to honor the graduating class of 2020, a virtual celebration, featuring photos and video clips submitted by the graduating Class of 2020, will be posted online in May. Diplomas and diploma covers will be mailed to all graduates who meet the graduation requirements. You’ll receive a separate message regarding details for this recognition.
October 2020 Commencement Exercises
The commencement ceremony for graduate students will be held Thursday, October 29, at 7 p.m. in the Frank Center. Two undergraduate ceremonies are scheduled for Friday, October 30 in the Wellness Center, at 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. You’ll be messaged separately regarding signing up to participate in the October ceremony.
Members of the Class of 2020 will be able to celebrate their first Homecoming as alumni the following day, Saturday, October 31. Special recognitions during the Homecoming parade and football game are being planned to honor the Class of 2020, whose original graduation date in May was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The rescheduled Commencement dates in October were endorsed by the Student Government Association Executive Board and Senate, with approval by the university’s Executive Leadership Team.
May 2021 Commencement Exercises
Members of the graduating Class of 2020 who cannot make the October ceremonies are welcome to participate in the 148th Commencement ceremony in May 2021. *
As a note, you can only “walk” once, so you must choose either to participate in the October 2020 or May 2021.
Finally, updates are posted on the commencement webpage. Thank you students, and good luck with the remainder of the semester!
Dr. Scott Beard, Provost
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MEMO DATE: March 27, 2020
Dear Graduating Students,
As a follow-up from yesterday’s 2020 Commencement communication, please see the below information from the Shepherd University Bookstore. As a note, in the coming weeks you will be receiving additional logistics about the upcoming recognitions in May and into the Fall semester. We will continue to email you directly and will also be posting updates on the commencement webpage.
Shepherd University Bookstore Grad Fair and Cap and Gown Information
- The Grad Fair rescheduled for April 13th has been canceled. If an in-store Grad Fair is scheduled for the October celebration, an announcement will be emailed to you and posted online. If you ordered your cap and gown to be picked up at the bookstore, you may email Tina Miller, 2060mgr@follett.com, your mailing address, and her staff will send your cap and gown to you.
- If you have any other questions about caps, gowns or cords, please email Tina Miller, at the above address, or call 304-876-5173. You can also visit the bookstore virtually at: www.shepherdbook.com
Thank you for your understanding during this extraordinary and rapidly changing period of time.
Sincerely,
Dr. Scott Beard, Provost
Co-chair, Commencement Committee
Academic Affairs: 304-876-5176
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MEMO DATE: March 26, 2020
Dear Graduating Students:
In a continuing effort to keep you informed of developments as soon as possible, and as a follow-up to initial emails regarding commencement, the decision has been made to alter the way we will celebrate our 2020 graduates; however, rest assured, your accomplishments will be celebrated!
We recognize the hard work you’ve put into your degree program and realize there are challenges for you over the next four weeks of instruction as you complete your coursework. We are so grateful for the dedication you’ve shown in these unprecedented and extraordinary times. Shepherd is committed to celebrate your graduation, and we appreciate how important it is to have alternative options to commemorate your achievements.
- May 9th Virtual Recognition Option: Working with our IT staff, we will have a virtual recognition of our graduates on May 9th. You will receive information about submitting various media types (photos, videos, tweets, etc.) for an interactive montage to be made available in an overall online commencement video.
- NOTE: You will also receive information from the bookstore* about distribution and return of regalia. We will also mail diplomas in May to those who have met all degree requirements.
- Celebration During 2020 Homecoming (October): We believe it is important for as many of you as possible to experience an in-person celebration, and we plan to hold an event during Shepherd’s Homecoming in October 2020. We’ll be messaging you with more details in April. You can stay updated with the latest information by checking your Shepherd email frequently and updates posted on the commencement webpage.
- 2021 Commencement Ceremony: Shepherd University will also offer the opportunity for graduates to return to campus and participate in the May 2021 commencement ceremony. We will solicit your RSVP to attend at the beginning of the fall semester.
Thank you for your continued patience as we navigate this fluid situation. And again, you can stay updated by checking your Shepherd email frequently and updates posted on the commencement webpage.
Dr. Scott Beard, Provost
Co-chair, Commencement Committee
Academic Affairs: 304-876-5176
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MEMO DATE: March 20, 2020
Dear 2020 Graduating Students:
We are working with faculty to ensure the completion of academic instruction, the assignment of grades, and the completion of degree requirements necessary for you to obtain your degree, whether at the undergraduate or graduate level.
- For those in co-ops and internships, if your site is not accessible, we are asking faculty to be flexible and to look at alternative assignments and ways students can meet requirements.
- We are also working closely with state agencies and accreditors in relation to required clinical or field experiences. In those cases, we must follow their guidelines for how we will certify students for any potential licensure requirements.
We are committed to the importance of recognizing you and your accomplishments as you complete this important milestone. All institutions of higher education are in similar circumstances, as the COVID-19 pandemic situation has made the celebration and honoring of graduates especially challenging, given state and federal restrictions on crowd size. We are currently evaluating how we will proceed and will announce shortly our plans for commencement. It is important that you check your email and this page frequently.
Thank you for your continued patience and understanding as we navigate this unprecedented situation!
With appreciation,
Dr. Scott Beard, Provost
Co-chair, Commencement Committee
Academic Affairs: 304-876-5176