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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information 4/22/2020

Degree Conferral & Commencement Information

Dear Graduating Students:

I hope that you are doing well and remaining healthy in these final weeks of the semester. Needless to say, we have missed you on campus. I wanted to provide you with updates on how Westminster will observe degree conferral and commencement for the Class of 2020.

Virtual Conferral of Degrees

On Saturday, May 9, at 1:30pm, we will livestream a brief ceremony to confer your degree, at which point you will be an official graduate! President Richardson, Reverend Mohr, and I will lead this ceremony, and you and your family can celebrate in the safety of your home. The ceremony will be streamed on Westminster’s website, and a recording will be posted on the College’s social media if you are unable to join us at that time. Feel free to share this link with your family and friends.
  Watch Live

President Richardson offers information about the virtual degree conferral ceremony in the video you can view here.

Regalia

Some of you have expressed interest in purchasing regalia to wear during the virtual ceremony and/or for taking your own photos. You’ll need the regalia for the Commencement ceremony when we are able to hold it on campus, too. You may order your cap and gown through the Campus Store’s website. Orders will be processed on Mondays and Thursdays of each week and mailed to the address that you provide when you order. The physical Campus Store remains closed, so you will not be able to come to campus for your regalia while Governor Wolf’s mandate is in place.

Share Your Celebrations with Us!

We want to see you shift your tassel as you celebrate your degree conferral. Be sure to tag @westminsterpa in your posts so that we can celebrate with you.

Fall Commencement Ceremony

When it is safe to do so, we will welcome you back to campus for a more formal commencement ceremony that includes the reading of all graduates’ names, the address by the senior speaker, and the cherished tradition of the faculty gauntlet. The details and the specific date for this event are still being determined, and any event will comply with current federal and state coronavirus guidelines to protect your safety. As soon as we have confirmed information, I will email you and also post details on the College’s social media.

Diplomas

Final grades are due on May 14, and you have until May 21 to opt into the alternate grading system. At the end of May or in early June, diplomas will be mailed to all students who have completed their degree requirements. Diplomas will be sent to the address listed on student records. If the College is still closed in May or June because of Governor Wolf’s mandate, we will mail your diplomas as soon as we are permitted to reopen.

Alumni Association Welcome

Watch for emails from the Alumni Association about how to remain connected with Westminster and how to view congratulatory messages from Titan alumni. You will also receive an email with a short senior exit survey. We ask for your help in completing this survey so that we can provide additional support if you are seeking employment/graduate school positions and make sure your College record is current.

I look forward to celebrating with you virtually in just a few weeks, and again when we are able to celebrate commencement together in person. Congratulations on your accomplishments across these four years!

Best wishes,

Jeffrey Scott Coker
Dean of the College, VPAA&E, & Professor of Biology