(BLOOMINGTON) – Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Indiana University Bloomington will host its first virtual commencement ceremony at 5 p.m. Dec. 19 to celebrate the Class of 2020.
A link to the event will be posted at commencement.iu.edu and has been communicated to graduates via electronic and printed invitations.
This year’s speaker is IU alumnus and actress Kheng Hua Tan. A highly respected award-winning actress and producer in Southeast Asia for many years, she is now also recognized all over the world for her performance as Constance Wu’s mother in “Crazy Rich Asians.”
“IU’s 2020 graduates courageously and patiently navigated one of the most challenging years in university history, as the COVID-19 pandemic drastically changed our campuses and lives,” IU President Michael A. McRobbie said. “We are immensely proud of their academic accomplishments and their role in keeping IU’s campuses safe, and we look forward to celebrating their outstanding achievements.
“We are also pleased that our newest graduates will get to hear from alumna and actress Kheng Hua Tan, who delivered an inspiring address during IU’s Bicentennial Celebration last fall and whose story serves as an example of the transformative power of an IU education.”
Who is eligible to participate?
If you have earned or will earn your degree in any month of the 2020 calendar year, you are eligible to participate in the virtual commencement ceremony.
Candidates who complete their degree requirements between Jan. 1 and the end of summer 2021 are invited to participate in the spring commencement ceremony. Candidates for all master’s, doctoral and specialist degrees; artist diplomas; and performer diplomas should attend the spring 2021 graduate ceremony. Candidates for all associate and bachelor’s degrees should attend the spring 2021 undergraduate ceremony.
All 2020 graduates are also welcome to return to campus and participate in an expected May 2021 commencement. Indiana University is hopeful that, within the context of public health guidance at that time, the university will be able to host its 2020 graduates and their guests in-person and recognize them at the May 2021 event.
How to get involved
Though this year’s celebration is virtual, there are several ways graduates can get involved:
- Winter Gradfair. Get all the details on how to prepare for virtual commencement.
- Celebration website. Find your name among the 2020 grads — the list will be updated Dec. 19.
- Cap decorating contest. You’re encouraged to get creative with your cap.
- IU Bloomington Bookstore. Purchase diploma frames, diploma covers and other items.
Information: News at IU Bloomington
