William Woods University will once again be able to celebrate the joy and triumph of its graduates in a gathering, though structured differently due to COVID-19.
The university announced Wednesday it will hold a series of traditional, in-person commencement ceremonies on campus during the weekend of May 1-2. William Woods was forced to cancel its in-person graduations last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
To comply with local health guidelines, the commencement weekend in May will include seven ceremonies. Three undergraduate ceremonies are scheduled for 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. May 1. Four graduate school ceremonies are then set for 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. May 2.
"We are beyond pleased to be able to hold our traditional commencement exercises to celebrate our graduates and their families in a safe and physically distanced manner," William Woods President Dr. Jahnae Barnett said in Wednesday's news release.
"The determination, discipline and flexibility of our entire campus community have made it possible for us to withstand this year of health and safety challenges; our 2021 commencement ceremonies are a culmination of those extraordinary efforts," Barnett added.
All events in May will take place inside the university's McNutt Auditorium, where each graduate may invite two guests to attend. Commencement ceremonies will be livestreamed for family and friends unable to attend in person.
Those attending the ceremonies will be required to wear face coverings and will be seated in a physically distanced arrangement. The auditorium will be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized between each ceremony.
William Woods' historic spring Ivy Ceremony - a graduation tradition at the university for decades - will begin festivities April 30 on campus.
Undergraduate commencement addresses will be delivered May 1 by Dr. Thomas Trice, associate professor of business at 9 a.m.; Dr. Paul Schiltz, associate professor of equestrian and university vegetarian at 11 a.m., and Dr. Stephanie Wells, professor of English at 1 p.m.
Graduate school commencement addresses May 2 will include Dr. Timothy Hanrahan, associate professor of physical education at 9 a.m.; Dr. Miriam O'Callaghan, assistant professor of management at 11 a.m.; Dr. Charlotte Miller, assistant professor of education at 1 p.m., and Dr. John Long, associate professor of education at 3 p.m.
"Our response to the complexities of navigating COVID-19 has truly been one of William Woods University's finest hours," Barnett said. "There is no better way to conclude this historic year than by holding traditional commencement ceremonies responsibly on our campus."