U of A Set to Celebrate 2020 Graduating Class With In-Person Commencement

Photo by Roy Cordell

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas will celebrate its 2020 graduating class with in-person commencement ceremonies spanning three days starting on Thursday, Dec. 17. 

Approximately 1,900 students applied to graduate during the December ceremony, which will include graduates from the 2020 spring, summer and fall terms. 

Due to COVID-19 concerns, ceremonies for each college will take place on one of the three designated days (Dec. 17-19) with some colleges conducting multiple ceremonies. All ceremonies except for the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design will take place inside Bud Walton Arena. The Fay Jones School commencement will take place at Vol Walker Hall. 

The all university commencement will take place at 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17, inside Bud Walton Arena. A full schedule of all commencement ceremonies can be found on the registrar’s website.

All ceremonies will also be streamed live on the university’s official YouTube channel.

COVID-19 GUIDELINES

As with everything else this year, the Fall 2020 commencement ceremonies will look different than in years past to help keep all attendees as safe as possible.

Attendance by students and guests will be very limited and tickets are required for everyone. Ceremonies will also be condensed and all protocols set forth by the Arkansas Department of Health will be followed.

If you plan on attending any commencement ceremony:

• DO NOT ATTEND if you have tested positive for COVID-19 and are in isolation.
• DO NOT ATTEND if you are experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19 or have come in contact with someone who has tested positive.
• All guests, students and staff will be required to social distance.
• Face coverings will be required, except for children 10 and under.

DAY OF COMMENCEMENT INFORMATION

Students who successfully registered for commencement should have had their “Grad Pass” and guest tickets emailed to them. Tickets should be printed and brought to the ceremony. No attendees will be allowed into the venue without a ticket.

Doors will open approximately 30 minutes prior to each ceremony and students will need to check in 30 minutes prior to the event start time at the east tunnel of Bud Walton Arena. Signs will be posted around the arena directing students and guests.

Guest seats will be in sections of six that are separated by the distance required to accommodate social distancing. Only members of the same family or group are to sit in each separated section of seats. A section of six seats will not be divided among different groups of families or guests. 

Each ceremony will last about one hour, and students and families are encouraged to disperse from the arena as quickly as possible to avoid crowding.

The U of A also offers updated information on graduation and commencement through its free smartphone app, which can be downloaded from Google for Android phones or Apple for iPhones.

PARKING

Free parking is available in any unrestricted parking lot on campus. General parking lots nearby Bud Walton Arena include lots 46, 47N, 47S, 56 and 74 (A, B, C and E). 

Disabled drop-off is located at the south entrance of Bud Walton Arena with disabled parking available in Lot 60. 

All additional information regarding commencement can be found on the registrar’s website.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among fewer than 3 percent of colleges and universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.