Raleigh Hightower
Staff Writer
rhightower@murraystate.edu
After two years of graduation ceremonies modified by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Registrar’s office staff say they are pleased to finally be hosting a more traditional graduation ceremony.
The Registrar’s office has been responsible for the planning of the Fall 2021 commencement and the previous commencement ceremonies. The Registrar’s office is led by Registrar Tracy Roberts and Assistant Registrars Ashely Rogers and Wendy Longworth.
The Fall 2020 graduation ceremony consisted of a virtual-only celebration. During the spring semester of 2021, the commencement ceremony returned in person under strict guidelines.
“We spent countless hours and meetings with Facilities Management, [the] CFSB Center and administrators to create an event that was safe and followed all guidelines,” said Longworth. “We hosted four ceremonies, limited guests and required advanced registration and tickets.”
In addition to the planning challenges of previous graduation ceremonies, many students found themselves anxious about the continued effects the pandemic might have on their own graduation.
“I feel like the pandemic has really taken away a lot of opportunities students could have had in their academic careers, so I think that being able to walk at an in-person ceremony means a lot,” said Lainie Jones, a graduating criminal justice major.
The Fall 2021 commencement ceremony will consist of one ceremony that will not require advanced registration or tickets.
Although the Fall 2021 graduation will have less guidelines than other post-COVID ceremonies, there will still be numerous safety precautions in place. Face coverings will be required for both graduates and visitors, hand sanitizer stations have been placed throughout the CFSB center, seating has been limited and socially distanced and President Bob Jackson will not be shaking hands.
Murray State encourages all who plan to attend the commencement ceremony in person to screen themselves for any COVID-19 symptoms prior to arriving.
With loosening restrictions, there will be many traditional elements of graduation returning for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
“We are reinstituting our collegiate banner and residential college shield bearers to start the ceremony,” said Longworth. “Our outstanding graduates will be delivering their remarks live instead of by pre-recorded video and Dr. Jackson will hand the commemorative scroll to each graduate as they cross the stage.”
The Fall 2021 commencement ceremony also marks the first graduation ceremony containing musicians from the orchestra and choir since the beginning of the pandemic.
Graduating political science/pre-law major Mercedes Rutledge is one of many graduating students that has found relief in the normalization of the Fall 2021 commencement ceremony.
“When I found out graduation was going to be basically normal, I was so relieved,” said Rutledge. “I wanted to be able to walk across a stage because graduating college is a big accomplishment that should be celebrated. I would have been very disappointed if I just had a powerpoint slide dedicated to my name and major, or even a completely virtual graduation where my family couldn’t come.”
This semester’s commencement ceremony will take place on Dec. 11 at 10 a.m. CST. The commencement ceremony will also be streamed live at https://www.murraystate.edu/about/streaming.aspx.