USC Aiken commencement to undergo precautions
Commencement, typically held at the USC Aiken Convocation Center in December, has undergone changes to ensure safety for students, faculty and families against COVID-19.
Ahmed Samaha, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, explained that confirmed cases of COVID-19 are rising, but that “We felt like it is very important that we try to have a graduation ceremony for our students. Whether you’re the 80th person in your family to graduate or the first … this is a huge accomplishment for yourself and your family.”
Samaha shed some light on what to expect from this semester’s convocation. “We came up with a plan to move it off-campus to the Aiken High School football stadium. We moved it outside because of continued concerns of having large indoor gatherings in the middle of the COVID-19 outbreak.”
He explained that commencement is typically held in December, but having it in December this semester would defeat the purpose of having classes go online after Thanksgiving. This year, it will be on Friday, Nov. 20 at 6 p.m.
If it rains, it will be held the following day on Saturday, Nov. 21 at 1 p.m. Graduates have practice at 1 p.m. Nov. 20, and are expected to check in at 4:30 p.m. at the James Taylor Gymnasium on the Aiken High School campus.
In the past, tickets were not required for December convocation, and students could bring as many guests as they wanted, but Samaha states that, “Unfortunately, because of COVID-19, there are still some state regulations in [place]. Graduates will be allowed two guests.” He explained that there will be tape marked on the stadium seats for two people six feet away from each other, and each pair of guests is to sit in an empty pod of their choice.
Due to the limited number of guests graduates are allowed to invite, the event will be livestreamed and recorded. Samaha stated, “A graduate can opt into a package where they get certain pictures and the video if they want.”
Grad Finale, a program that allows students to complete all commencement duties at one time, will be held Wednesday, Nov. 4th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Student Activities Center. Stations will be spread out throughout the building for appropriate social distancing. This is where graduates will be able to pick up their tickets, order a frame for their diploma, fill out necessary paperwork and more.
Samaha stated that it is O.K. if a graduate cannot make it to Grad Finale, and that graduates can pick up their tickets and fill out necessary paperwork after Nov. 4 at the alumni house.
The USC Aiken website is expected to be completely updated the first week of November, which will include all of the aforementioned information as well as diagrams about where people should park and enter the stadium.
Graduation will still be a traditional ceremony, although some elements will be different. Samaha stated, “Graduates will not process in. When they check in, they’re going straight to their assigned seat [six feet away from one another].” The same goes for faculty. Mask protocol has yet to be approved by health officials, but Samaha stated that he thinks that, “Students will have to wear a mask except when they’re seated or taking a picture with their official photographer.”
In addition to health regulations due to the ongoing pandemic, there is one new safety precaution at play this semester. Although the number of bags allowed at convocation is usually limited, Samaha stated, “We are going to be asking guests to leave their purses in their car. If they do have to bring in a bag, it should be clear.”
Samaha emphasizes that if a student graduating this semester has changed their mind about wanting to come to convocation now that the event will be held outdoors, they can easily express such. He instructed that all one would need to do is call the records office and inform them that they changed their mind about participating in graduation, and they should be able to make this change easily.
