Like many schools across the country, Portland State University will celebrate the accomplishments of its 6,000 graduates in a virtual way with online commencement events scheduled for June 14.
But a message to students last week from PSU’s student government and the vice president for enrollment management, clarified that plans for an in-person celebration are underway and will be finalized once current health concerns allow for such a gathering.
“We wanted to share some information with you in the hopes of clearing up some confusion,” said Kyle Leslie-Christy, Associated Students of PSU’s student body president, and Chuck Knepfle, PSU’s vice president for enrollment management, in a message to students on Friday.
“The University administration, with a significant amount of input and participation from students, is 100% committed to hosting an in-person event once the current public health situation allows for one,” the message stated.
Students were also encouraged to share their input on what that in-person ceremony could look like (via an online input form) and were assured that participation in the virtual ceremony would not have any bearing on their participation in the future, in-person event.
“The decision to not postpone the commencement ceremony to a later date, and instead provide a virtual option on the date originally scheduled, was to allow for those who want that option, are remote, and/or want to finalize their experience as a student of PSU an opportunity to do so,” the message stated.
A planning team is working on the in-person event and will incorporate as many suggestions as possible.
The message also informed graduates that PSU is providing professional photographers on campus for graduates seeking graduation photos. Details about the photography sessions are still being determined and will be shared in the coming weeks.
“We know that this may not bring much reassurance for those graduating this spring, but we want you to know that we are working hard to make this process more transparent, more equitable, and filled with more student voices,” the message stated.
Students are advised to send feedback to aspsuprs@pdx.edu and follow updates on the PSU commencement website, https://www.pdx.edu/commencement/.