COVID-19 Response: Tri-C Announces Changes to Spring Commencement

Virtual May ceremony and in-person December event now planned to celebrate graduates

Given restrictions on large public gatherings due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C^®) will honor spring graduates May 14 with a virtual commencement ceremony.

In addition, the College plans to gather spring graduates for a traditional commencement celebration in December so that they can experience the excitement and emotion of a formal cap-and-gown event.

Tri-C President Alex Johnson announced the two-part plan in an email and video sent this afternoon to petitioning graduates and those eligible for associate degrees and certificates.

“We all are so incredibly proud of each of you for your energy, perseverance and dedication, especially during this final semester,” Johnson wrote. “I cannot imagine sending you into the next phase of your life without a proper celebration, which is why we plan to honor you twice.”

The virtual ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 14 — the same time and date of the originally planned in-person event. Petitioning graduates will receive an email next week with details on how to participate.

The traditional celebration later this year will take place at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16, at Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center. The ceremony will be separate from the College’s Fall Commencement, which is scheduled for the following day.

April 10, 2020

John Horton, 216-987-4281 john.horton@tri-c.edu