MSU Having An Outdoor Graduation Ceremony – What You Need To Know

In a year of non-stop facemasks, hand washing, social distancing, and virtual classes, could we expect much else?

Michigan State University has recently announced that they will be holding their graduation ceremonies outdoors this year.

There are going to be 50 graduation ceremonies, which all will be held in four parking lots across the campus, according to WILX.

“Normally commencement ceremonies are held at the Breslin Center indoors so having them outdoors during a time of COVID presented additional challenges,”  Infrastructure Planning and Facilities member, Fred Woodhams said.

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Each ceremony is expected to be an hour and a half long with some cleaning time in between for the next ceremony. Face masks, as well as socially distanced chairs, are going to be required at the event.

Many seniors were worried that they wouldn't even have the opportunity for a chance at graduation, due to a more virtual way of teaching this past year.

“I was pretty convinced that we weren’t going to have an in-person graduation, and getting the email that they were trying to work out plans to do an in-person graduation was really exciting,” said Danielle Anthes, a studen who will be graduating this weekend, said to WILX.

At this time, students can only RSVP two guests.

“I almost didn’t walk in high school from different circumstances... If I didn’t walk now, I was going to be a little upset but I’m glad we can. I’m very excited and my family is excited to see me walk across the stage with all my achievements and everything,” another soon to be MSU graduate Nicole Meo said to WILX.

Anyone interested in streaming this event can watch the live stream by clicking here.