Notre Dame to hold commencement ceremony online

NOTRE DAME, Ind.— In a letter to students on Monday, University of Notre Dame President John Jenkins announced that in-person spring commencement ceremonies and gatherings will not take place on campus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The university is planning to hold an online ceremony on the originally scheduled date of May 17. It will include a recorded address by the university’s commencement speaker as well as a conferral on graduates by Jenkins via live-stream.

According to the university, the live-stream is being held to ensure that degrees are conferred and certified in May so that graduates may seek employment or further studies.

Students will be invited back to campus on Memorial Day Weekend in 2021, at which point the university will recognize members of the Class of 2020 through more formal ceremonies for individual schools.

Jenkins in his letter mentioned similarities between the Class of 2020’s commencement disruptions to that of the Class of 1879, when students were sent home abruptly after a fire caused damage to the campus.