Colleagues:

Yesterday evening, after severe weather forced us to cancel Commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2021, I wrote to let you know we were working to develop another opportunity to celebrate this year’s graduates next Sunday, May 23.

Today I am happy to report that we are inviting this year’s graduates and their guests to join our previously scheduled Commencement ceremony for the Class of 2020 at 10:30 a.m. This combined Commencement event will be special in that it will celebrate two separate classes of graduates who share a common bond – that is, they persevered to earn their degrees during a global pandemic.

The event will resemble past years’ celebrations in that graduates will get to enjoy the traditional walk down the Hill into David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Tickets will no longer be required for this ceremony, and seating will be open to graduates, their families and guests in a way that promotes social distancing. Additional details will be available on our Commencement website.

We realize not all of our graduates and guests from either class will be able to attend this special Commencement ceremony. We also recognize this ceremony won’t be the same without all of our graduates here. For those members of the 2020 and 2021 classes who can’t join us in Lawrence, we wholeheartedly invite them to watch the livestream on the Commencement website.

Thank you for all you’ve done to support the 2020 and 2021 graduates. These students have gone through so much in their time at KU, and they deserve to be celebrated for overcoming adversity in pursuit of their degrees.

Respectfully,

Doug