Dear graduating students and families,
As we prepare to kick off the fall semester, planning is already well under way to celebrate our October and December 2021 graduates. As part of this planning, we are excited to share with you an important change we’re making to create a more student-centered experience.
Starting this year, our December celebration will transition into a full Commencement ceremony celebrating the individual accomplishments of our graduating students. The name of each graduating student who is present and would like to participate will be announced as that student crosses the stage, allowing us to fully recognize the proud moment that college graduation represents and the incredible efforts and sacrifices that have been made to realize this outstanding accomplishment.
In addition, graduates will receive their diploma cover, medallion, and any earned Latin honor cords.
We hope that you will join us in-person on South Hill for our inaugural December Commencement on Sunday, December 12, 2021 at 10:00am in the Glazer Arena in the Athletics and Events Center.
A few other important details:
• Due to the small size of the graduating group, we are pleased to share that we will be able to include family members and supporters at our in-person celebration.
• We are excited to fully open our campus this Fall, and therefore will not be offering virtual participation in the Commencement ceremony.
• We will have a livestream of the ceremony available at Ithaca.edu/commencement/livestream for family members and supporters who are unable to travel to Ithaca.
• As always, the health and safety of our campus community is our utmost priority. Information on COVID-19 health and safety protocols for December Commencement will be shared later this semester.
• Graduation regalia – cap and gown – is required for all Class of 2021 graduates planning to attend the Commencement ceremony. Regalia may be ordered online through the Campus Store (https://campusstore.ithaca.edu), and the deadline to complete a regalia order request is October 31.
• For planning purposes, an inclement weather date has been set for Wednesday, December 15, 2021 at 6:00pm.
• Diplomas for October graduates will be mailed in mid-November, while diplomas for December graduates will be mailed in late January.
• 2021 October and December graduates will also be invited to participate in our May Commencement ceremony.
More information on our December Commencement will be shared throughout the fall semester. Please be sure to visit Ithaca College’s Commencement website (ithaca.edu/commencement/december) for the latest updates.
Additional questions can be shared to commencement@ithaca.edu. We look forward to celebrating with you on December 12.
Sincerely,
La Jerne Terry Cornish
Provost & Executive Vice President