2021 Commencement Plans
SOU’s 2021 Commencement experience will be comprised of three primary opportunities:
- An in-person live-streamed opportunity for graduates to walk across the Commencement stage, have their name read, and have professional photographs taken
- A comprehensive Virtual Commencement Ceremony
- Various individual academic program events designed to help students say goodbye to their classmates and faculty members and be recognized individually
In-Person Name Reading/Photography Opportunity
Saturday, June 12th 2021
Slots beginning at 9:00 A.M. PST with last timeslot ending by 1:00 P.M.
- Available to 2019-20 & 2020-21 graduates only
- No guests will be permitted
- Students will complete a sign-up form in advance (deadline of May 28th)
- SOU will organize multiple groups of 100 students max per group, in half-hour intervals
- Student academic regalia encouraged but not required to participate. The SOU Bookstore is well-stocked with regalia and is available for both walk-in and web orders. Web orders should be completed at minimum a week ahead of the event.
- Social distancing, face coverings, and sanitizing protocols strictly enforced
- Participating students will wear face coverings other than during their time walking across the stage and having their photographs taken
- Event will be live-streamed and recorded
- Students will have an opportunity to walk across the Commencement stage, have their name called, and have professional photographs taken by a SOU-provided photographer
- Given the ever-changing nature of the Pandemic and associated safety protocols, SOU reserves the right to cancel this event with minimal notice
- If you have any accommodations/accessibility needs, please email Aubrey Owens, Coordinator of Disability Resources, at Owensa@sou.edu. Please email Graduation@sou.edu for general questions.
Virtual Commencement Ceremony
Saturday, June 12th 2021
2:00 P.M. PST start (ceremony will last roughly 1 hour)
Links and technical details will be forthcoming over the next few weeks. Event will be livestreamed on the SOU Commencement Website as well as various social media platforms.
- All members of the classes of 2019-20 and 2020-21 will automatically be included (no advanced sign-up needed)
- Opportunities for interactive “Zoom parties” (technical details will be forthcoming)
Immersive and professionally-produced ceremony that will encompass many of the traditional elements of a SOU Commencement, including:
- Posting of Colors and Eagle Staff
- National Anthem performed by a graduating SOU Music student
- Remarks from SOU President Schott
- Brief speeches from both a selected graduating student and a main speaker
- Acknowledgement of the Dankook and Guanajuato awards
- Conferral of degrees
- Visual acknowledgement (scrolling names) of all graduates by academic program
Individual Academic Programs Events
- SOU is developing a comprehensive list of individual academic program events
- These events are designed to be intimate and provide an opportunity for students to say goodbye to their peers and core faculty
- Academic programs will provide details directly to their students and will invite them individually