Covid-19 and Graduation at Penn State 

1st Virtual Fall Commencement of 396 graduating classes in Penn State History

On Saturday, December 19, 2020, for the 396th time Penn State will celebrate all Fall 2020 graduates. But only for the 2nd time will the upcoming commencement be virtual as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to abide by CDC public health guidelines as it regards social gatherings and maintaining social distancing.

Since the beginning of the year, The Class of 2020 has experienced significant changes in what traditional education and what completing a degree in recent years has looked like. For many graduates adjusting to remote online synchronous learning during their senior year has presented various challenges. However, because online learning is the only alternative, students have been forced to make the best of the transition and adjust to countless changes that have altered their final two semesters at Penn State. These changes include various clubs, student organizations, and on-campus activities being compromised to meetings just hosted on Zoom or simply cancelled as a whole. 

Celebrating graduation and commencement is a huge accomplishment especially for this year’s graduating class. In a recent letter from University President Dr. Eric Barron addressed The Class of 2020, about one-third of third of this year’s graduating class is composed of first generation college students. While only 39% of Americans over the age of 25 have earned a bachelor’s degree, graduates have awaited the celebration of this milestone with great anticipation, a celebration which has been stripped away.

Alynn Phelan, Spring 2020 graduate expressed her disappointment and sadness regarding her inability to experience graduation in person and not being able to have her family and friends witness the moment as well, as she is the first one in her family to graduate from a 4 year university. She said “in addition to walking across the stage, above all things I looked forward to taking a picture in my cap in gown in front of our well deserved banner in the gum alongside my teammates.” Alynn Phelan was also one of Penn State Abington’s last class members of the 2017 NEAC Lacrosse Season Championship. Like other senior student-athletes, Alynn said that she believes that Penn State athletes have felt the sting of activities being cancelled the most. Especially since many looked forward to being able to compete at the college level for just one final season.

Although Penn State plans to welcome back all Class of 2020 graduates to campus at a later date to when it is safer to celebrate, not everyone is guaranteed to be able to participate. Many students, like Alynn, will no longer reside in the Philadelphia region. Phelan, who received her bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, is now a 1L at Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She worries that coming back to Pennsylvanica to graduate may not be feasible and schedules just may not permit.

Although it is widely understood that there is not much the University can do due to the present circumstances of COVID-19 , graduates like Alynn may be disappointed, but, like Alynn, they may refuse allow the circumstances of the pandemic to take away from the significance of this milestone achievement.

The Fall 2020 commencement will be streamed online December 19, 2020 at 2p.m. EST at https://fall2020.commencement.psu.edu