Commencement

Dear Graduate,

Congratulations on your upcoming commencement ceremony!

 You have put tremendous effort into your achievement, and we wanted you to know that we are working around the clock, seven days a week, to get caps and gowns to you and your fellow graduates. If you have already received your order, no further action is needed at this time.

 We are navigating through the continued challenges with manufacturing and distribution during the COVID pandemic and the labor shortages associated with it. With both 2020 and 2021 graduates being able to celebrate this year, it has presented us with a large volume to deliver in a short window of time. Despite all of this, we know when your ceremony is scheduled and, if you have not already received it, you will receive your cap and gown in time for commencement. Your delivery may not come weeks before the ceremony as we all wish it could (as it would be normal years), but it should arrive no later than two to three days before your big day.

 If you want to check the status as the ceremony date approaches, you can always visit https://collegegrad.herffjones.com/order/inquiry. You will need your CPA internet order reference number, which can be found in your order confirmation email. Keep in mind that shipping carrier tracking information may take 24 hours to update. Also, please know that if we need to expedite the shipping to you to meet your date, we will at our cost.

 While this is not ideal, we thought it prudent to give you a heads up on the revised delivery expectations to plan accordingly. Thank you for understanding, and once again, congratulations!

 - Herff Jones

To the Members of the Class of 2021,  

Thank you to all who responded to our RSVP form. With that information, the commencement committee was able to make some key decisions about your commencement ceremonies. We are thrilled to provide you with more information about our plans to celebrate you, the Class of 2021, in person, at two commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 22 on the beautiful Hood campus. We will celebrate undergraduate students in a ceremony at 1 p.m. and graduate students at 5 p.m. 

Students, your final year at Hood has been unprecedented, but it was only because of your commitment to the protocols in place that we made it through the year safely and that we will be able to celebrate you in true Hood spirit – with excitement, joy and a sense of the close-knit community we are.  

Because of our commitment to allow you to celebrate together as a class and our ongoing and necessary compliance with state and county health guidelines, we will only be able to allow graduates to invite two guests to attend the ceremony in person. This is far from ideal, and we understand that there will be grandparents, children, siblings and other loved ones who cannot be present. The ceremony will be live-streamed and available on the College’s YouTube channel later that week. 

Even with the public health guidelines that limit our usual ceremony, rest assured there will be plenty of pomp and circumstance. We are planning an inventive and graduate-centered Commencement to celebrate the Class of 2021. Please carefully read the details below. 

I want to personally thank you for your dedication, hard work and grace as you navigated the unknowns. I am so excited to celebrate you. 

Best,

Andrea E. Chapdelaine, Ph.D.
President

The Ceremony 

• There will be no processional. Graduates will be given seating information the week of May 17.  
• Graduates must remain masked during the ceremony and may not move chairs. 
• To ensure the ceremony remains focused on our graduates and featured commencement speakers, some elements of the usual ceremony will be prerecorded and available the morning of commencement and within the context of the full ceremony in a YouTube recording available later that week. 
• Social distance between the graduate and the president will be maintained as each graduate walks across the stage to pose for the commencement photo. (No hand shaking or hugging.) 
• The College will have photographers to capture each element of the ceremony; a large video wall will also be placed beside the stage for better viewing.  
• Following the ceremony, guests should remain in their seats until the platform party and graduates have recessed. Graduates will recess through the north gate, around the east side of Coblentz Hall to the Quad. 
• Guests will recess from west and south gates, around the west side of Coblentz Hall to the Quad. 
• To ready for the next ceremony, we ask all guests to leave the field as soon as they are able and to vacate campus no longer than 45 minutes following the ceremony conclusion. 
• Restroom facilities will be available in the Nicodemus Center, Coblentz Hall and Volpe Athletic Center. 

Ticket Information 

• Graduates who indicated via RSVP that they will attend their ceremony will receive two tickets for their guests. Tickets will be available for only those who responded. 
• Graduates must wear a cap and gown and will not require a ticket. (If you still need to order a cap and gown, please contact the College Bookstore.) 
• All guests over the age of 2 require a ticket. Children under the age of 2 may sit on a lap and do not need a separate ticket.  
• Tickets can be picked up beginning Monday, May 3 at 9 a.m. through Friday, May 21 at 5 p.m. at the Whitaker switchboard. Tickets will not be mailed.   
• Any tickets not picked up by May 21 can picked up at a “will call” table, located near the aquatic center entrance the morning of May 22. 
• Because of our commitment to allow you to celebrate together as a class and our ongoing and necessary compliance with state and county health guidelines, we will only be able to allow graduates to invite two guests to attend the ceremony in person. 

Guest Information 

• Guests must have a ticket to enter the Thomas Athletic Field  
• Local guidelines require each guest to undergo a temperature checked and answer COVID screening questions prior to entering the Athletic Field. 
• Guests should be in their seats 15 minutes before the start of the ceremony to maintain the schedule of the day. 
• Guests must wear masks at all times and maintain social distancing. Chairs cannot be moved. 
• Restrooms are located in the Volpe Athletic Center, Coblentz Hall and the Nicodemus Center. Guests must have their ticket to re-enter the field area. 
• Seats will be filled by the ushers from front to back. 
• Guests will not be allowed to go near the stage; a large video wall will be placed beside the stage for better viewing. 

Field Protocols 

• All individuals are required to wear a mask covering their nose and mouth at all times.  
• Heels are not allowed on the field; anyone wearing heels will not be allowed to enter.  
• No food, gum or any beverage other than water is allowed in the athletic field area. Bottles of water will be available for all graduates and guests. 
• No pets allowed; service animals are acceptable.  
• Chairs will be placed six feet apart and cannot be moved, even to sit closer to a family member. 
• Artificial turf can be 20-40 degrees hotter than the air temperature. The field does not offer shade, so guests and graduates should be prepared with appropriate clothing, hats, sunscreen, etc. If sitting in the sun/heat for an extended period of time will not be sustainable, individuals should consider watching the ceremony via live stream. 

Severe Weather 

• Severe weather is classified as lightening or high winds. The commencement committee will be monitoring the weather all week for any indication of possible severe weather that may impact the ceremony and communicate any changes as soon as possible.  
• Rain is not considered severe weather.  Therefore, the commencement ceremony will proceed if it’s raining. Graduates and guests should dress appropriately for the weather.  
• Should severe weather occur, the commencement ceremony will be postponed and rescheduled for the next day or a later date, whichever is feasible. There is no alternative plan to move commencement inside due to COVID and indoor capacity restrictions.  

Additional questions can be sent to marketingoffice@hood.edu.  

To the Members of the Class of 2020,  

Thank you to all who responded to our RSVP form. With that information, the commencement committee was able to make some key decisions about your commencement ceremony. We are thrilled to provide you with more information about our plans to celebrate you, our Class of Hope, in person, at a commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 22 at 9 a.m. on the beautiful Hood campus. 

Graduates, your first year post-Hood has been unprecedented, from the loss of the last semester of your senior year to the delay in your commencement ceremony, but I made a promise that you would have a commencement here on campus and am so thrilled that we will finally celebrate you in true Hood spirit – with excitement, joy and a sense of the close-knit community we are.  

Because of our commitment to allow you to celebrate together as a class and our ongoing and necessary compliance with state and county health guidelines, we will only be able to allow graduates to invite two guests to attend the ceremony in person. This is far from ideal, and we understand that there will be grandparents, children, siblings and other loved ones who cannot be present on campus. The ceremony will be live-streamed and available on the College’s YouTube channel later that week. 

Even with the public health guidelines that limit our usual ceremony, rest assured there will be plenty of pomp and circumstance. We are planning an inventive and graduate-centered Commencement to bring the Class of 2020 home. Please carefully read the details below. 

I want to personally thank you for the hope you provided me when this pandemic began and for your patience. This celebration is long overdue and I, for one, cannot wait to welcome you back to campus. 

Best,

Andrea E. Chapdelaine, Ph.D.
President

The Ceremony 

• There will be no processional. Graduates will be given seating information the week of May 17.  
• Graduates must remain masked during the ceremony and may not move chairs. 
• To ensure the ceremony remains focused on our graduates and featured commencement speakers, some elements of the usual ceremony will be prerecorded and available the morning of commencement and within the context of the full ceremony in a YouTube recording available later that week. 
• Social distance between the graduate and the president will be maintained as each graduate walks across the stage to pose for the commencement photo. (No hand shaking or hugging.) 
• The College will have photographers to capture each element of the ceremony; a large video wall will also be placed beside the stage for better viewing.  
• Following the ceremony, guests should remain in their seats until the platform party and graduates have recessed. Graduates will recess through the north gate, around the east side of Coblentz Hall to the Quad. 
• Guests will recess from west and south gates, around the west side of Coblentz Hall to the Quad. 
• To ready for the next ceremony, we ask all guests to leave the field as soon as they are able and to vacate campus no longer than 45 minutes following the ceremony conclusion. 
• Restroom facilities will be available in the Nicodemus Center, Coblentz Hall and Volpe Athletic Center. 

Ticket Information 

• Graduates who indicated via RSVP that they will attend their ceremony will receive two tickets for their guests. Tickets will be available for only those who responded. 
• Graduates must wear a cap and gown and will not require a ticket. (If you still need to order a cap and gown, please contact the College Bookstore.) 
• All guests over the age of 2 require a ticket. Children under the age of 2 may sit on a lap and do not need a separate ticket.  
• Tickets can be picked up beginning Monday, May 3 at 9 a.m. through Friday, May 21 at 5 p.m. at the Whitaker switchboard. Tickets will not be mailed.   
• Any tickets not picked up by May 21 can picked up at a “will call” table, located near the aquatic center entrance the morning of May 22. 
• Because of our commitment to allow you to celebrate together as a class and our ongoing and necessary compliance with state and county health guidelines, we will only be able to allow graduates to invite two guests to attend the ceremony in person. 

Guest Information 

• Guests must have a ticket to enter the Thomas Athletic Field  
• Local guidelines require each guest to undergo a temperature checked and answer COVID screening questions prior to entering the Athletic Field. 
• Guests should be in their seats 15 minutes before the start of the ceremony to maintain the schedule of the day. 
• Guests must wear masks at all times and maintain social distancing. Chairs cannot be moved. 
• Restrooms are located in the Volpe Athletic Center, Coblentz Hall and the Nicodemus Center. Guests must have their ticket to re-enter the field area. 
• Seats will be filled by the ushers from front to back. 
• Guests will not be allowed to go near the stage; a large video wall will be placed beside the stage for better viewing. 

Field Protocols 

• All individuals are required to wear a mask covering their nose and mouth at all times.  
• Heels are not allowed on the field; anyone wearing heels will not be allowed to enter.  
• No food, gum or any beverage other than water is allowed in the athletic field area. Bottles of water will be available for all graduates and guests. 
• No pets allowed; service animals are acceptable.  
• Chairs will be placed six feet apart and cannot be moved, even to sit closer to a family member. 
• Artificial turf can be 20-40 degrees hotter than the air temperature. The field does not offer shade, so guests and graduates should be prepared with appropriate clothing, hats, sunscreen, etc. If sitting in the sun/heat for an extended period of time will not be sustainable, individuals should consider watching the ceremony via live stream. 

Severe Weather 

• Severe weather is classified as lightening or high winds. The commencement committee will be monitoring the weather all week for any indication of possible severe weather that may impact the ceremony and communicate any changes as soon as possible.  
• Rain is not considered severe weather.  Therefore, the commencement ceremony will proceed if it’s raining. Graduates and guests should dress appropriately for the weather.  
• Should severe weather occur, the commencement ceremony will be postponed and rescheduled for the next day or a later date, whichever is feasible. There is no alternative plan to move commencement inside due to COVID and indoor capacity restrictions.  

Additional questions can be sent to marketingoffice@hood.edu.  

Dear Classes of 2020 and 2021,

We are delighted to announce that, due to recent changes in COVID-19 restrictions, we are confident that we can hold in-person commencement events for the Class of 2020 and the Class of 2021. We are overjoyed that we will be able to gather together to celebrate each of you. 

Based on your responses to the recent online survey, we know that an in-person celebration on campus with a limited number of guests was of great importance. Accordingly, we will hold multiple ceremonies on the weekend of May 22-23 on the Thomas Athletic Field. We are currently planning to hold separate ceremonies for each undergraduate class and a combined ceremony for graduate students from the Class of 2020 and Class of 2021. This plan is contingent upon the confirmed number of graduates planning to attend each ceremony. At each commencement ceremony, we will implement safety measures required by state and local public health officials, including controlled entrance and egress, temperature checks, face masks, physical distancing, occupancy limits, cleaning and signage.

It is expected that each graduate will be limited to TWO TICKETS, although this may be increased depending on the number of graduates attending and changes in social distancing and capacity restrictions. For planning purposes, we must have an accurate count of the number of graduates who plan to attend the ceremony on campus. All graduates who plan to participate in their commencement ceremony must RSVP by Friday, April 9. 

Ceremonies will be live streamed. Additional information and further logistical details will be added to the commencement website as they become available. Questions may be directed to marketingoffice@hood.edu.

Sincerely,

Andrea E. Chapdelaine, Ph.D.
President

Dear Class of 2020,

In the spring, when we made the difficult decision to postpone our May commencement ceremony, we offered several options to you. The choice with the most positive response was October 10, 2020. That date offered a ceremony in your graduation year, on campus when current students would be on fall break, and hopefully when the worst of the pandemic had passed.

A lot has changed since that decision. To minimize the spread of COVID-19 on campus, we have adjusted the fall semester academic calendar, starting a week early (on August 17) and eliminating fall break in order to end the semester before Thanksgiving. And while COVID-19 infection rates in Frederick County are low, these rates have been sharply increasing in many parts of this country and internationally. Last week, Governor Hogan issued an executive order for people traveling to Maryland from those “hot spot” areas to be tested and self-quarantine for two weeks upon arrival. Taken together, these changes require that we reconsider our plan to hold your commencement ceremony on October 10. Accordingly, we recently polled members of the commencement committee, which includes students from the class of 2020. They unanimously recommended that commencement not be held on October 10 for the reasons noted above. 

And so, we have made the painful decision to push back the 2020 commencement ceremony to May 2021, which was your second preferred option. Your commencement ceremony will be the same weekend as the class of 2021 (May 22-23, 2021), but you will have your own ceremony. And yes, Dean White will still be your commencement speaker. More details will be forthcoming but please hold those dates.

As I said to you several months ago, “there is one promise I will make – you will have a commencement. It is possible that the date, format, etc. may have to change but there will be a day that I will proudly, and with great joy, hand each one of you your well-earned diploma.” Knowing that day will come has helped sustain me, as I hope it has you during these difficult times.  

You are Hood’s Class of Hope. Until then, stay safe, be well and continue to do great things. I cannot wait to welcome you back to your Hood home.

Best,

Andrea E. Chapdelaine, Ph.D.
President

Dear Members of the Class of 2020, 

I’m writing today to share with you a very difficult decision. Given the current predictions regarding the trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have determined that May 16 is not a viable option for our 2020 Commencement ceremony, and we must postpone it. This also means postponing related activities, including Senior Week, the baccalaureate service, the ROTC commissioning ceremony, the doctoral hooding ceremony, the nursing pinning ceremony and the graduate degree reception.

While some schools are holding a virtual ceremony on their original commencement date, that has never been an option for Hood. I made a promise to you early on that you will have a commencement ceremony. And I have heard from many of you that that promise has helped mitigate some of the disappointment and sadness you are feeling due to the profound disruption the pandemic has caused.

Be assured that this is a postponement of celebrating your degree, not the degree itself. Based on the successful completion of your degree requirements, the Board of Trustees has voted to award your degree in May. Regardless of when we hold your commencement ceremony, as of May 16, 2020, you are a Hood College graduate.

The commencement committee met earlier this week, with a number of seniors and graduate students in attendance. Based on that meeting, we have identified three possible alternative dates for the ceremony. We’ve created a short survey outlining these options, and we are asking all 2020 graduates for input. The survey also includes space for you to provide your own thoughts. 

Please complete the survey no later than Wednesday, April 8. 

Your input will help us make the best, most student-centered decisions as we move forward with our plans. We will announce the selected date as soon as we can but no later than Friday, April 17.

I am so very sorry we will not be together on May 16, 2020, but we are planning ways for all of the Hood community to recognize and celebrate you, graduates, on that day until we can do so in person.

I am so proud of you all for not only what you’ve accomplished to get to this point, but also for how you have adapted under tremendous pressure and uncertainty. You continue to make me Hood Proud. Be well!

Best,

Andrea E. Chapdelaine, Ph.D.
President