Sacramento State to hold virtual graduation ceremony due to coronavirus pandemic
California State University Sacramento will hold its spring commencement ceremonies virtually this June, university officials said Thursday.
University President Robert Nelsen announced a “virtual graduation celebration” will be held June 6 for the class of 2020, and that classes of 2020 and 2021 would be honored at next May’s in-person ceremony at Golden 1 Center, Sacramento State said in a tweet thread.
“We know that a virtual celebration is not the same and that this outcome is not desirable for our graduates and their families, but we believe that we have no other realistic choice,” the university tweeted. “... we had initially hoped to hold ceremonies over the summer, but it has become clear that we are in for many more months of disruption and social distancing than previous believed.”
The university statement said it then looked at dates for an in-person commencement celebration during or following the fall 2020 semester, but could not book a large venue, such as Golden 1 Center or its home football stadium, for a date in that window.
“So much has been lost during this pandemic, and I know that many of you are angry and grieving,” Nelsen said in a prepared statement. “I have heard from you about the disappointment you and your loved ones feel about this postponement, and I am very sorry that we are in this situation.”
The virtual ceremony will be available at www.csus.edu/president/commencement on June 6 at 10 a.m. The event requires an online RSVP.
The coronavirus pandemic prompted Gov. Gavin Newsom on March 19 to issue a mandatory, statewide “stay-at-home” order that remains in effect. All large gatherings have been banned to curb the spread of the virus that causes the deadly disease known as COVID-19, and residents may not leave home except for essential reasons like shopping for food or going to work at a job deemed essential.
Sacramento State’s physical campus has been closed since mid-March, with classes transitioning online.
UC Davis made a similar decision to hold its graduation ceremony virtually and will do so June 12. The university announced the decision last week, saying an in-person ceremony could be held sometime in December, but no official date was set.
