Frequently Asked QuestionsClasses of 2021 and 2020 Commencement

Are guests allowed at the Class of 2021 or 2020 Commencement ceremonies?
Guests will not be allowed at the ceremonies. We want to acknowledge the deep desire for families and loved ones to be together in person for commencement, and we apologize for the disappointment that this decision has caused. This was an extremely difficult decision that was made after exploring numerous options and following guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health.

Why are guests not allowed?
The first priority for the College is to provide a commencement experience that all graduates feel safe attending and that minimizes risk before, during, and after this important event. Since the pandemic began, the College has tried to limit COVID transmission, while providing experiences that are student-centered and with COVID-safety modifications. 

Based on what the College has experienced over the past year, we are confident we can provide a COVID-safe commencement experience for all graduates of the Classes of 2021 and 2020. These ceremonies will be the largest gathering of any group of people on campus at a single event since the pandemic began.

Adding additional people to an already large gathering would significantly increase the risk of COVID transmission and challenges to managing COVID safety protocols.

The Minnesota Department of Health has continued to tell institutions of higher education that now is not the time to reduce COVID mitigation efforts. This is largely based on having the more contagious variant of the COVID virus now widely spreading in Minnesota. We have seen how quickly a spike in cases in a community can happen. In addition, the current Minnesota vaccination rate of approximately 50 percent is not high enough for public health officials to be confident of herd immunity.

Will the Class of 2021 and 2020 Commencement ceremonies be live streamed?
Yes. Both ceremonies will be live streamed and archived on the Commencement website. The Class of 2021 ceremony will be live streamed on Thursday, May 13 at 10:30 a.m. and the Class of 2020 ceremony will be live streamed on Sunday, May 16 at 2 p.m. We encourage the Class of 2021 to watch the re-broadcast of their ceremony with family and friends on Saturday, May 15 at 2 p.m. Both ceremonies will be archived and available for viewing on Monday, May 17. 

How is having guests at commencement different than going shopping, eating at a restaurant, going to a major league sporting event, or having guests on campus for other activities this year?
The challenge for having guests at Commencement is the scale of this event and the staff and facilities we have to host such an event. Maintaining COVID protocols is easier in a small-group setting. The College has allowed a small number of guests to select outdoor athletic events and fine arts performances this spring. The size of Gustavus facilities is significantly smaller than venues such as Target Field or US Bank Stadium, which means we are more limited in the size of a group we can safely accommodate. 

Why can’t the ceremony be outside in the football stadium? 
After a year of change and uncertainty, we want to provide a meaningful ceremony for the Classes of 2021 and 2020 without last-minute changes or interruptions due to inclement weather. The College does not have a facility large enough to accommodate all graduates and guests if the ceremony would need to move indoors. The Lund Forum is the largest indoor event space on campus. It is large enough to have graduates be physically distanced, but not large enough to accommodate guests.

Why don’t you divide the graduates into multiple groups and hold smaller ceremonies that guests can attend?
Dividing the class either by major or alphabetically would mean graduates would not be attending this important event with some of their closest friends and the majority of their class, which we know is a highly meaningful part of the experience. 

Why can’t family members who are fully vaccinated attend as guests?
Based on vaccination rates, we know that this would prohibit approximately half of the guests from attending. We do not want to create such an inequitable opportunity for attendance. 

When do 2021 graduates need to be out of their campus housing?
Class of 2021 graduates have been asked to move out of their campus housing by 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 13. Individuals with exceptional circumstances should contact the Dean of Students Office to discuss options.