NY college graduation rules: Will grandma make cut? Get a Covid test, hold on to your hat

graduation cap

A Syracuse University student decorated her graduation cap for the school's 2014 commencement. Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.

Syracuse, N.Y. – College graduates in New York state attending commencement ceremonies next month should hold onto their hats. Literally.

The ceremonial tossing of graduation caps into the air is a no-no. So are hugs, handshakes and refreshments.

Even public restroom occupancy will be curtailed.

Those are some of the details covered in nine pages of guidance the state issued last week on how colleges and other schools should conduct graduation ceremonies amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

There are so many state restrictions, some schools may decide it’s not worth holding a graduation event. That would be OK with the state health department, which continues to recommend people steer clear of large gatherings.

In its guidelines, the state health department says:

“Nothing in this guidance would prohibit delaying a graduation ceremony until the risk of Covid-19 transmission has diminished.”

Syracuse University, Le Moyne College, Cazenovia College and many other schools canceled commencement events last year because of Covid-19. They plan to revive in-person ceremonies next month.

But those events will look a lot different than pre-pandemic graduation ceremonies.

Everyone attending ceremonies will have to bring proof of vaccination or a recent negative Covid-19 test. Some events may limit the number of guests allowed or ban them. That makes it unlikely grandparents or younger siblings will be able to attend.

The state rules say large ceremonies of more than 150 people in indoor venues that can seat 2,500 or more must limit attendance to 10% capacity.

The Carrier Dome, where Syracuse University holds commencement, has a capacity of more than 49,000. That means it can only let in about 5,000 people at a time under the state’s guidelines.

To comply with the rules, SU will hold up to three identical in-person commencement ceremonies in the Carrier Dome May 22 and May 23 depending on how many students participate. Each student can invite two guests. SU did not say who will speak at the events or announce the event times yet. SU said each event will be limited to 5,000 people -- 1,600 students, 3,200 guests, plus faculty, staff and event personnel.

The state is encouraging schools to hold events outdoors.

Large outdoor venues must limit capacity to 20%.

To comply with that rule and still allow guests to attend, Le Moyne decided to hold five ceremonies outside its athletic complex for graduates of the classes of 2020 and 2021. It will let each graduating student invite two guests.

If ceremonies are moved indoors because of bad weather, guests will not be permitted. That means out-of-town relatives and friends who have traveled to Syracuse to attend may not get in if the weather turns bad.

There will be two ceremonies at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. May 22 for 2020 undergrads, one ceremony May 27 for 2020 and 2021 graduate students and two ceremonies at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. May 28 for 2021 undergrads.

All ceremonies will also be livestreamed.

Cazenovia College will hold two in-person commencements May 22 on the campus quad, rain or shine. The first one at 10 a.m. will be for the class of 2020. The ceremony for the class of 2021, which includes 151 graduates, will take place at 2 p.m. Each graduate can invite up to two guests. Each ceremony will draw fewer than 500 people.

Here are some other state graduation event rules:

  • Limit the number of guests or hold student-only commencements.
  • Give students diplomas, caps and gowns in advance so they don’t have to be handed diplomas during the event.
  • If diplomas are distributed at the event, students receiving them and school officials handing them out must use gloves or hand sanitizer.
  • Every attendee must complete a health screening questionnaire before the event that asks if they have Covid-19 symptoms, recently tested positive for the virus and other questions.
  • All attendees must provide proof of Covid-19 vaccination or a recent negative Covid-19 test.
  • Sharing or exchanging materials that could increase risk of Covid-19 transmission is prohibited. This includes throwing graduation caps or exchanging gifts.
  • Facemasks and social distancing are required. Students can momentarily remove their masks to get photos taken as long as they stay far enough away from others.
  • Colleges should reduce restroom occupancy and not serve refreshments to prevent people from congregating.
  • Schools must limit the length of ceremonies and the number of speakers to shorten the time attendees are exposed to each other. Speakers cannot share microphones unless they are disinfected between uses.

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