Dean of Students Lynn LeMoine shared the good news Friday with the Mitchell Hamline community that spring commencement will be held in person at CHS Field in St. Paul on June 6.
Below is Dean LeMoine’s email to faculty and staff.
Dear Colleagues,
Exactly one year ago today we announced to students that we would not be returning to campus from spring break and moving to all remote classes. Today I write with some really exciting news.
The email below went out this afternoon to graduating students announcing our plans for an in-person commencement ceremony at CHS Field, home of the Saint Paul Saints, on Sunday, June 6, 2021 at 11 AM.
We will also extend an invitation to students who graduated in 2020.
More details will be forthcoming soon about our need for volunteers. In the meantime, have a wonderful weekend!
Lynn
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Hello Graduating Students,
We know that you have been patiently and anxiously awaiting the decision about the commencement ceremony this Spring. We appreciate your patience as we’ve explored what would be possible given the continued uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic and the public health restrictions that remain in place. We are so pleased to write to you today to let you know, as long as conditions remain favorable, we will be able to hold an in-person ceremony on Sunday, June 6, 2021 at 11:00 AM (CT) at the Saint Paul Saints Stadium, CHS Field. Please note that this is a change from the date of commencement posted on the academic calendar; holding an in-person ceremony as safely as possible involved pushing the date back and holding the event in an outdoor space.
Commencement will look and feel different this year, and we are developing a plan to safely be together to celebrate you and your accomplishments. Advanced registration for commencement will be required by Thursday, April 1, 2021. We understand that you are anxious about the number of guests you can bring. At this time we are planning on 2 guests per graduate. The number of guests will be contingent on the number of graduates who participate and the expansion of in-person limits set forth by the Minnesota Department of Health. We will provide updates about guests as soon as that additional information becomes available. The ceremony will be live streamed for any guests who cannot attend or for graduates who are uncomfortable participating in an in-person ceremony.
You will be receiving a Commencement: Spring 2021 Canvas invitation today. Please join this Canvas page to register for commencement and to receive updates as additional information becomes available. Information about COVID-19 safety protocols for the event and details about the ceremony will be updated in the Canvas page.
Details, such as program start time or number of guests, may change based on weather and updated guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health. Here are some additional pieces of information we are evaluating when making decisions:
- Current CDC and MDH recommendations along with MHSL COVID-19 protocols
- Guidance from our COVID-19 Planning and Response Team and Professional Consultants
In the unfortunate event that we are unable to proceed in person, we will move to a virtual ceremony on June 6, 2021. We thank you for your patience, and we look forward to celebrating your accomplishments as safely as possible. Please direct any questions about this to Student.Services@mitchellhamline.edu.