ONONDAGA, N.Y. — Onondaga Community College (OCC) announced it plans to hold an outdoor commencement ceremony on campus for its Class of 2020 on Sunday, Aug. 9 at 2 p.m.
The event was originally scheduled to be held inside during the month of May, but was postponed amid the COVID-19 crisis.
OCC will build an outdoor stage for the ceremony. The community college says families attending can bring lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the event on the OCC campus. If social distancing remains an issue, the school will “alter its plans as necessary” and recognize students’ accomplishments at the same date and time on campus.
“We asked groups of student leaders how they wanted to celebrate their commencement and they told us their preference was to hold the event during the summer. We look forward to creating something unique which they will remember for the rest of their lives. In the nearly 60-year history of our college, it’s hard to imagine a graduating class going through more than this group of students has. They deserve a large celebration and we plan to give them one,” OCC President Casey Crabill said in a statement.