Celebrating Commencement 2020
March 20, 2020
Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,
Thank you for the profound and countless ways you and our Loyola community are joining forces to care for each other while ensuring academic integrity and institutional continuity during these very challenging times. The impact of COVID-19 around the globe is immeasurable, and we are doing all we can to maintain a strong sense of community and the Loyola experience in new ways that meet the challenges before us.
You, the Class of 2020, are also our sesquicentennial class! And we could not be prouder of you! In this, our 150th year as a Jesuit, Catholic university, WE ARE CALLED to lead, to serve, to act. And we are called to meet the challenges of our times—especially now—with hope, creativity, and love. You are showing us all the way, and we look forward to celebrating your graduation with you, even if we have to break the mold!
As we shared this past Wednesday, we are committed to celebrating our graduating students and to keeping you informed of our plans for Commencement 2020. Honoring our graduates is one of the highlights of our academic year. We witness the joy of goals achieved and celebrate the students with whom we have had the privilege of teaching, mentoring, and engaging. It is an exciting moment to walk with our graduates as they enter into our alumni community and go forth into the world.
Based on guidance of public health officials and current projections, we plan to hold Commencement ceremonies between Saturday, August 8, and Wednesday, August 12, 2020 on Loyola’s Lake Shore Campus.
Many details are still being worked out, including ways to celebrate virtually with graduating students who cannot make it back to campus. To help us plan, we have included a survey link below and ask that you please return that to us as soon as possible. We are counting on your input to make your celebration special and unique.
Our preliminary plans for Commencement in August are completely dependent on favorable COVID-19 conditions. We will continue to provide updates as available and expect to confirm these dates and the details of the celebration with students and their families several weeks before the proposed August 8–12 dates. We want everyone interested in participating in person to have ample time to make arrangements.
Although our Commencement ceremonies will be delayed, all degrees will still be conferred in May or June as previously scheduled, and diplomas will be mailed.
Graduating Students – Action Item
Graduating students, please complete this survey by Friday, April 3, regarding your interest in attending the rescheduled ceremonies. Again, we are counting on your input to plan the best, most unique experience possible in this current situation.
We know our graduating students and families have many questions. Please visit the Commencement FAQ on Loyola’s Coronavirus Information website. There, you will find information about academic regalia, hotels, and more. If you have additional questions, please email COVID-19support@LUC.edu.
We look forward to celebrating with you at whatever form Commencement takes. We are very appreciative of our community as we navigate through this global health event.
Sincerely,
Jo Ann Rooney, JD, LLM, EdD
President
Norberto Grzywacz, PhD
Provost and Chief Academic Officer