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May 4, 2020

Dear amazing class of 2020,

As your ³ÉÈËÊÓƵstudent career and this upended semester come to a close, I am thinking of you. I am deeply disappointed that many of the events and ceremonies we had planned for you have had to be postponed or celebrated digitally, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You have achieved so much as individuals, and as a class, and there will be a time when we honor you and your accomplishments in person, celebrating with you all that you are and have become. I enjoyed watching many of the presentations uploaded for the online Senior Symposium, and know that, whatever your major and your intended career path, you will make a difference in the world and in the communities and ways that matter to you.

Though we will not have a virtual ceremony, we encourage you to mark your calendars for May 17th at 10:30am EST for a virtual moment (details are forthcoming from your class board). Please know that you can also experience this at any time with your family and loved ones, if you are unable to make the time. On that date, if you have completed all of your requirements, you will become a ³ÉÈËÊÓƵgraduate and join the ranks of more than 38,000 alums worldwide. The degree you have worked so hard for will be yours, and your diploma and class scarf will be mailed to you later this summer at the address we have on file. 

I also write to say again that we are planning an in-person Commencement for you at some point in the future, and we are working hard to incorporate other cherished ³ÉÈËÊÓƵtraditions into the plan. We very much hope that we will be able to hold this event in 2021, if such gatherings are again permitted. An important part of Commencement is celebrating your success with friends and family, and it is a tremendous privilege for all of us on campus to witness and share in their joy and pride, as well as yours. 

It is, though, still too early to know whether such events might be open to families and the public. We will weigh all the options just as soon as we have a clearer sense of what will be possible and can make informed decisions. Until more is known about the public health situation, and any related changes to our academic calendar, we cannot be more specific about a date — and we may not be able to confirm the date for quite a while. We know this is far from ideal, and we will do our utmost to give you plenty of notice so that you can plan your return to campus for this celebration.

Commencement requires a lot of advance planning, even in ordinary circumstances, and we find ourselves in an extraordinary time and situation. I ask for your patience and understanding as we work through the time and the way to celebrate your graduation in person. When the time comes, we will all be so happy to see you back here in the regalia that symbolizes your work and engagement during your time at Mount Holyoke. 

With my warmest wishes to you all,

Sonya Stephens
President