The Class of 2020 will have in-person graduation celebration on May 22 and May 23, 2021.
Credit: Son NguyenBefore the coronavirus pandemic hit, the Class of 2020 was supposed to celebrate their commencement in person next Monday. While that event was canceled in March, Penn announced they are now holding the in-person graduation ceremony for the Class of 2020 on May 22 and 23, 2021.
Penn President Amy Gutmann announced the news in an email to the Class of 2020 on Wednesday. The University will still hold an online commencement on May 18 at 11 a.m. ET which will mark the official conferring of degrees for the Class of 2020.
"Mark your calendars now for the weekend of May 22 & May 23, 2021, when we all plan to be together again, taking our traditional march down Locust Walk to the Class of 2020 Commencement Celebration in Franklin Field," Gutmann wrote. "Please plan to join us in person next year for this unique University-wide celebration."
In the email, Gutmann indicated deans, professors, classmates, family, and friends would also be at the ceremony in May 2021.
When Penn shifted commencement online back in mid-March, Gutmann expressed a desire to hold an in-person celebration by fall 2020.
While the newly announced celebration is on May 22 and 23, 2021, it will not directly conflict with the Class of 2021's commencement which is currently scheduled for May 17, 2021.
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