The University of Arizona is setting the stage for guests to attend the school’s in-person commencement ceremonies next month, officials said Tuesday.
Up to four guests per student will be allowed to attend the events, which will be separated by college instead of one large event in Arizona Stadium. The 16 commencements will occur between May 11 and May 18.
Guests at commencements will not be tested but will complete a Wildcat Wellcheck, the school’s daily text-based coronavirus screening tool. The administration believes the smaller outside events will allow for proper social distancing.
The administration is asking guests to do all they can to be vaccinated before they arrive at the school.
The University of Arizona Women's Basketball team ran through their opponents in the Pac-12 and straight into the 2021 NCAA Tournament. Video by Rick Wiley / Arizona Daily star
Students graduating in May should check emails to find their RSVP link for their ceremony. Students will decide if they’ll be celebrating with the in-person event or during the livestream as well as how many guests will be attending.
More commencement information can be found at commencement.arizona.edu.
“If public health conditions do change, we will modify the ceremony plans as needed to minimize the risk for graduates, guests, our staff, faculty and people in the community. This includes revoking the guest policy, or moving to a fully virtual experience if necessary,” President Robert C. Robbins said during a university news conference Tuesday.
So far, virus levels have remained low enough for the campus to enter stage three allowing in-person classes up to 100 students to resume.
Between March 27 and April 5, the UA administered 9,337 tests with 25 positive cases for a total positivity rate of 0.3%.
The UA is even incentivizing the vaccine for students with a $5 reward for being fully immunized, needing only to upload their vaccination record at health.arizona.edu. The system, UA said, is HIPAA compliant.
Students who’ve received vaccinations will also have their Wildcat OneStop marked with a green “VX” showing they’ve been fully vaccinated and are now exempt from testing requirements.
“This is essentially a vaccine passport. You show this if you’re a student, you don’t have to test and for upcoming events, we’re going to be testing students and faculty members to go to commencement. If you’ve got that green check with VX, you’re good to go,” Robbins said.
Between Jan. 15 and April 5, the UA vaccine site has distributed 133,551 vaccines to the community.
“We need volunteers to come out and help us, especially in nonmedical roles. Scribes, making sure people are welcome and hydrated and getting food and keeping the traffic flowing properly so that everyone stays safe,” Robbins said.
Volunteers can sign up at Covid19.arizona.edu/vaccine and find the “vaccine opportunities” tab.
“While this positive low positivity rate is an encouraging sign for the campus community. We are seeing reasons for concern in the broader community,” said Robbins, “and our wastewater experts have reported a higher concentration of COVID-19 in wastewater countywide.”
Still, Arizona remains 45th nationally in seven-day averages with nine new cases per 100,000 people. Michigan is first with 67 cases, UA said.
The Rt values also increased in the last week, now standing at 1.07 compared to .77 the week prior. The 85719 ZIP code where the university is located also rose to 1.11 from .77. The Rt value measures the average number of people an infected person infects. Infections slow when the Rt is below 1.
“We’ve bumped up a little bit,” said Dr. Richard Carmona, leader of the UA’s reentry task force, when speaking about positive cases.
Carmona added that “Nevertheless, people are tired — there’s COVID exhaustion, people are getting out. They don’t want to wear they’re mask, we still have the confusion of a lot of messaging that is not supportive of the best science, and people aren’t sure.”
Historic photos: A look back at University of Arizona Commencement ceremonies
University of Arizona Commencement May 27, 1953.
University of Arizona Woman's Day May 1965
Arizona elder statesman Barry Goldwater gives his best wishes to Rebecca Wood, who received her degree in medicine at UA commencement exercises. Goldwater, who presented the commencement address, advised the graduates to be honest in everything and cherish freedom. May 13, 1989.
Senator Barry Goldwater at UA Graduation speaking at the graduation ceremonies at McKale Center on May 13, 1989.
Fine arts graduate Tim Brigham waits for commencement to begin Dec,. 19, 1992, at the University of Arizona, as he wears his sentiments on his head.
With boxing gloves on ready to fight the outside world, computer science major Mohit Bhapia celebrates graduating along with his classmates at McKale Center on May 12, 2001.
University of Arizona head basketball coach Lute Olson, who gave the commencement speech to UA's 124th graduating class May 12, 2001, laughs as he recalls how preparing for this speech was harder than preparing for Illinois, Michigan State, and Duke, all teams that UA had to play against in the this year's Final Four.
UA students break out "Silly String" to celebrate their graduation during the UA 115th Commencement at McKale Center Dec. 19, 1996.
Some of the 1,607 graduating students who took part in the UA's 116th commencement May 17, 1997, spelled out their joy during the ceremony at McKale Center.
More than 1,700 students attended 1998 UA graduation ceremony at McKale Center.
Members of the UA Class of 1948 whoop it up during the commencement of the class of '98 at McKale Center. They were honored on their class's 50th Anniversary. Graduates use silly string to celebrate 1998 UA graduation ceremony at McKale center.
UA President Peter Likins congratulates graduates during commencement ceremony at McKale Center on May 13, 2000.
Bachelor's party: Espree Kessler gets a lift from fellow grad David Ellis. Both got bachelor's degrees.
Tortillas litter the floor of McKale Center following commencement at the University of Arizona May 15, 2010 in Tucson, Ariz. Once a proud tradition, tortilla throwing is now banned, but a few snuck their way past security.
Graduates get one last celebration on the floor of McKale Center following the Spring 2012 Commencement at McKale Center, Saturday, May 12, 2012. Dr. Peter Rhee, the trama surgeon who worked on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords during last year's shooting, was the honorary guest speaker. A total of 4,206 undergraduate degrees, 882 master's degrees, and 298 doctoral degrees were conferred.
About 6,000 students graduated from the UA on May 17, 2014.
The thousands of bachelor’s degree eligible students and their decorated mortar boards, shuffle through the southend of Arizona Stadium towards seats on the field for the 151st Commencement ceremonies for the University of Arizona, Saturday, May 16, 2015, Tucson, Ariz. Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
A graduate sports his Arizona state flag with a UA block A logo during the 152nd University of Arizona Commencement.
Graduates, including psychology major Kayla Holder at right, cheer as the fireworks go off during the 153rd University of Arizona Commencement ceremony on May 12, 2017, at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz. UA president Ann Weaver Hart conferred about 6,800 degrees on the Class of 2017. Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Ryan Valenzuela, receiving his bachelor’s degree in business administration, whoops as he walks in with fellow graduates during the 154th University of Arizona Commencement.
Arizona Stadium played host to 4,500 graduates and an estimated 40,000 guests during the 154th University of Arizona Commencement .
The University of Arizona President Roberts C. Robbins speaks during The UA's 158th Commencement Ceremony at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz. on May 13, 2022.
Jane Korjenek, right, takes a selfie with her daughter Abbie Korjenek before the University of Arizona’s 158th Commencement Ceremony at Arizona Stadium.
