Elmira College Shares Plans for Commencement, Fall 2021

Elmira, NY (03/16/2021) — In an email to the Elmira College community, Charles Lindsay, president of Elmira College, shared today the College's plans for Commencement and the Fall 2021 Term. The announcement comes one year after the coronavirus first affected the Elmira College campus when classes moved to an online format in response to the pandemic.

"On March 16, 2020, we held our first online-only classes, a move that was handled quickly and adeptly by faculty and staff," said Lindsay. "And while life is not yet back to 'normal,' I am optimistic that things are headed in a positive direction. To that end, we are developing plans for a modified, in-person Commencement in June. Administration is working with the Chemung County Health Department to ensure the ceremony meets New York State guidelines, and once the plans are finalized and approved, we will share the details with graduating students."

The modified Commencement plan would be based on current coronavirus guidelines, and if the guidelines change before Commencement Weekend (June 4-6), the College will adjust its plans as necessary.

"While we are still unable to offer our full, traditional ceremony, this plan would allow the Classes of 2020 and 2021 to celebrate, socially distanced and in-person," said Lindsay. "Graduating students should watch their email for additional information."

The College also shared its intent to return to in-person classes for the 2021-2022 academic year.

"As we look ahead to Fall 2021, we fully anticipate a return to in-person classes and a more traditional campus life experience at EC. While we will likely need to remain vigilant and continue to practice ongoing mitigation efforts such as mask wearing and on-campus COVID-19 testing, the current trajectory of infection and the anticipated rate of vaccination bode well for a return to some normalcy," added Lindsay.

The College will continue to confer with the Chemung County Health Department as preparations are made for the fall term. Additional information about summer orientations and the upcoming academic year will be announced as soon as decisions are made and plans are confirmed.

The College's COVID-19 information resource page, Soaring Forward, includes the College's 2020-2021 Coronavirus Guidelines and a link to EC's COVID-19 Dashboard.

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