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Lander Announces Dates, Plans for Spring 2020 and Fall 2020 Commencement Ceremonies

The State of South Carolina has approved Lander University's plans for in-person commencement exercises for its Spring 2020 and Fall 2020 graduating classes.

Lander postponed the Spring 2020 commencement ceremony, originally scheduled for May 13, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The ceremony for May 2020 graduates will now take place Saturday, December 12. The ceremony for Fall 2020 graduates will take place Tuesday, December 15, as originally scheduled. All events will be held in Horne Arena.

To keep the number of graduates, employees and guests in the arena at safe levels, the ceremonies will be split into morning and afternoon programs, with three academic colleges per program:

Spring 2020 Commencement Exercises

Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020; Horne Arena

10 a.m.:

  • College of Education
  • College of Behavioral & Social Sciences
  • College of Science & Mathematics

2 p.m.:

  • College of Business
  • College of Arts & Humanities
  • School of Nursing
  • Other (IDS Majors)

Fall 2020 Commencement Exercises

Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020; Horne Arena

10 a.m.:

  • College of Behavioral & Social Sciences
  • College of Arts & Humanities
  • College of Science & Mathematics

2 p.m.:

  • College of Business
  • College of Education
  • School of Nursing
  • Other (IDS Majors)

All events will be conducted in accordance with current public health and government guidelines for social distancing and mask usage, and all plans are contingent upon COVID-19 conditions and public health regulations at that time.

The following safety measures are being put into place:

  • TICKETS: In order to accommodate social distancing and event capacity guidelines, guests will be limited to four (4) per graduate. All ceremonies will be livestreamed from the Lander website to accommodate those who cannot attend in person. Information regarding ticket distribution will be shared with the campus community at a later date.
  • COMMENCEMENT JAZZ BRUNCH: There will be no commencement brunch for either ceremony.
  • FACULTY AND STAFF ATTENDANCE: Faculty attendance will be optional, and social distancing measures will be in place at all times. Staff attendance will be limited to essential personnel only.

Lander's commencement committee and COVID-19 task force are working to finalize additional ceremony details, and those plans will be shared with graduates and the campus community soon.

"We are pleased to share our commencement plans for Lander's spring and fall Class of 2020 graduates, who deserve the opportunity to celebrate their incredible accomplishments with classmates, family, friends, faculty and staff," said Dr. Boyd Yarbrough, Vice President for Student Affairs. "We appreciate the patience our graduates and families have shown as we navigate the pandemic's effects and work to develop ceremony plans that will keep our campus community and guests safe."

For more information, visit www.lander.edu/commencement2020.