Update on Commencement

Congratulations to the upcoming Class of 2021! The entire RIT community looks forward to celebrating this special event in May. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, continues to impact our ability to host our normal activities. At this time, we are happy to announce that we plan to host in-person commencement ceremonies in May, in accordance with New York state regulations. There are many details still to be considered and we will keep you informed on a regular basis as we finalize our plans.

In light of the current state regulations, it is unlikely we will be able to welcome guests to our ceremonies. Therefore, we discourage guests from making any non-refundable travel arrangements until we have more definitive plans in place. We understand the need for graduates and families to plan and will provide an update about the schedule of ceremonies and potential for inviting guests to our campus in early April. All ceremonies will be live-streamed for viewing by family members and friends.

We are very excited to celebrate with the 2021 graduates in person. While our ceremonies may look different, we will focus on what’s really important – recognizing the accomplishments of the Class of 2021 with all the pomp and circumstance they’ve earned.

And what about the Class of 2020?

We also plan to offer in-person celebrations for the Class of 2020 in May, again in accordance with all New York state regulations. We are also considering regional commencement celebrations for members of the Class of 2020 during the next academic year. An update will also be shared in early April.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate the complexities related to the pandemic and look forward to celebrating with the Classes of 2020 and 2021.

Sincerely,

David C. Munson, Jr.
President

Ellen Granberg
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

A sign language interpreted translation of this message is available.