By: Laura Antunez / Staff Writer
Students who had plans to graduate in the spring are being offered virtual graduation until a make up graduation date can be set.
“For some people, it’s really all they’ve got,” said Pamela Del Carmen, a graduate student receiving a Masters of Global Affairs in the spring. “It’s their last chance to do this.”
According to the FIU commencement website, the graduation will be on May 8 at 10 a.m., however, it can be accessed anytime after 10.
The commencement will feature the President and the Dean’s remarks and graduate slides. The graduate slides will consist of the name of the graduate, the degree and a photo or video submitted by the graduate.
Since this is not a regular commencement, students do not have to register like normal graduation. If a student applied for graduation before April 14, 2020, they will be a part of the virtual graduation.
If a student does not supply a photo or video, the graduation slide will have the student’s FIU One Card photo. The video can be no longer than 15 seconds and the website recommends expressing “your gratitude to those who helped you get to this memorable moment and your love for FIU.”
Aside from the graduation slides, students will also be given a 45-second downloadable video containing footage of FIU, a message from President Rosenberg, and your graduation slide. The graduation slide consists of the graduate’s name, photo or video, and a picture of the degree.
If the graduate still desires to attend a regular commencement, the tentative date as of now is the week beginning with August 1. If a student, however, cannot make it back to attend the commencement, President Rosenberg will make himself available to take a picture in full regalia, once it is safe to attend the university.
If a graduate, however, does desire to still participate in the traditional ceremony, the ceremony will be separate from the ones occurring during that particular semester.
Prior to the pandemic and the subsequent quarantine, Del Carmen was excited to participate in the Spring commencement.
“I was excited not so much for the ceremony but more so to do with my cohort,” she said. “I was excited to spend this time together with the people I’ve spent the last two years with so we could breathe a sigh of relief.”
Despite the ability to partake in a traditional ceremony, Del Carmen is choosing to be cautious.
She said that the prospect of being in a room with thousands of students, and thousands of national and international guests was too risky, especially when all it takes is one person.
“I’d go if it were just for me, but since the graduation is for my family to be there and celebrate with them I don’t want to put anyone in my family at risk,” she said.
Teia Buzone is a graduating psychology major and although she did not have plans to attend the original ceremony, she still values there being an option for students who were excited about their graduation.
“I think it’s a nice alternative for people who wouldn’t be able to attend a commencement ceremony at a later time,” she said. “At least they have some options, those who were really looking forward to that.”
