I just received this document from Gradimages yesterday that gives some suggestions about commencement and what other schools are doing for across the nations. I'm leaning towards recommending mini ceremonies but I also liked the graduation walk idea in this document. I'm also considering recommending doing mini ceremonies but with the 2020-21 graduates on one weekend and the 2019-20 on another weekend. We have some members of the community wanting a purely outdoor ceremony but financially and logistically I don't know if that's possible for our campus.
Even with a face-2-face component we will probably do some sort of virtual commencement this year. I'm reading from other sources that a dual approach is where most are heading as the prediction is that COVID-19 will still be a major issue come commencement season.
One final item very evident to me from reading the documentation is commencement will probably be a multi-day event this year with different departments or divisions scheduled different days to allow time for cleanup and transition.
Hope that helps the conversation. I'm happy to brain storm with anyone that may have additional ideas or insight. My goal is to have multiple contingency plans in place so we can adapt quickly to the environment. I know we can't plan for everything but I do not want to get caught in the place we had to deal with last year related to last minute decisions.
Charity
Charity Walters| Registrar and Director of Institutional Research | The University of Montana Western | 710 South Atlantic Street | Dillon, Montana 59725 |
Phone 406.683.7471
"Start by doing what is necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible." St. Francis of Assisi
From: MACRAO Listserv <MACRAO@LISTSERV.GFCMSU.EDU> On Behalf Of Mangold, Maria
Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2021 12:47 PM
To: MACRAO@LISTSERV.GFCMSU.EDU
Subject: Re: MACRAO Leadership Update
We're hustling to formulate contingency plans for commencement. What are other campuses doing? Is anyone doing a virtual-only ceremony or is everyone planning some sort of in-person attendance?
President Bodnar has given us the directive to have some portion of face-to-face interaction (prioritizing student attendance over guests, pending county/state health dept. recommendations that will be in place on Saturday, May 1st).
Let's share info! It's a heavy lift as we'll be inviting graduates from spring 2020, summer 2020, fall 2020, AND spring 2021.
Best regards,
Maria
MARIA H. MANGOLD, M.Ed.
UNIVERSITY REGISTRAR
EL 201 | Missoula, Montana
t: (406) 243-2412 | e: maria.mangold@umontana.edu | w: umt.edu/registrar/
U N I V E R S I T Y O F M O N T A N A
From: MACRAO Listserv <MACRAO@LISTSERV.GFCMSU.EDU> On Behalf Of Gresswell, Kandi
Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2021 10:27 AM
To: MACRAO@LISTSERV.GFCMSU.EDU
Subject: Re: MACRAO Leadership Update
Go Team, go!!
You ladies will do great 😊
Kandi
From: MACRAO Listserv <MACRAO@LISTSERV.GFCMSU.EDU> On Behalf Of Eggum, Heather A
Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2021 9:58 AM
To: MACRAO@LISTSERV.GFCMSU.EDU
Subject: MACRAO Leadership Update
Hello,
I am reaching out to inform our MACRAO team that Kyle Pratt is no longer employed at Rocky Mountain College and will no longer be able to serve as MACRAO president. Vice-President, Ashley Irion, and I will work together to fulfill Kyle's duties until we are able to have our next election. Feel free to contact Ashley, myself, or the MACRAO listserv if you need anything. We will begin working on the spring meeting soon so be thinking about ideas and potential dates.
Thanks!
Heather Eggum
Associate Registrar
Registrar's Office
Montana State University Billings
1500 University Dr.
Billings, MT 59101
(P) 406-657-1784
(F) 406-657-2302
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