Via @lasalleunvi on Instagram La Salle Graduate in her cap, gown and mask.
On Mar 24, President Hanycz announced in-person graduations for both the class of 2020 and 2021 in a message, saying, “It is with great excitement that I announce La Salle University will host separate, in-person Commencement ceremonies for the Classes of 2020 and 2021 at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia on Saturday, May 15, 2021.” Graduating students will be able to invite two to four guests to their ceremony. Face masks and physical distancing measures will be required. In addition, to ensure all COVID-19 protocols are followed, there will be two separate ceremonies on May 15, one for the class of 2020 and one for the class of 2021. The Baccalaureate Mass will be on campus in the McCarthy Stadium and students are permitted two guests. There will be livestreams of both ceremonies as well.
Similarly, other universities in Philadelphia are pushing for in-person events if possible. Drexel University is having a graduation at Citizens Bank Park. The number of guests is still in question. In addition, Drexel will hold virtual ceremonies for its different schools throughout June. Jefferson University is planning to have a ceremony at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts. At the moment, Jefferson University is not permitting guests. The University of Pennsylvania will have an on-site ceremony for undergraduates at their own Franklin Field, but no guests are allowed and graduate and professional schools will have online ceremonies. Saint Joseph’s University will have an on-campus ceremony with a currently unspecified number of guests. Temple University will have virtual school wide graduation and the different schools will have in-person events without guests. Villanova will have in-person ceremonies with two guests allowed per student.
Philadelphia public high schools are promising an in-person graduation for the class of 2021. Philadelphia public schools have not been in-person all year and do not plan to be for the remainder of the school year. Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. wants students to “safely celebrate at in-person, outdoor high school graduation ceremonies as safe capacity limits and COVID-19 conditions allow for safe school gatherings.”
The La Salle Collegian 