The following was sent on Thursday, June 25, 2020, to members of the Class of 2020 who had applied to graduate at summer commencement as of the date of this message.
Summer commencement announcement
Dear Buckeyes:
Congratulations on your accomplishments. Your class has faced unprecedented disruptions and challenges over the last several months, and you have persevered. We are proud of you, and we are grateful for all who made your success possible, especially your loving and supportive families and your dedicated professors and mentors.
Because of continued precautions on large gatherings, I write to share that we will celebrate the Class of 2020 at a virtual commencement on August 9. The event will be livestreamed from the Schottenstein Center to the homes of Buckeyes across Ohio and around the world.
Your achievements will be celebrated in person at a future date when it is safe to do so. In the meantime, you will join together virtually to celebrate this special moment.
Below are some important updates.
The virtual celebration
A pre-ceremony program featuring messages from graduates, deans and other university leaders from across our campuses will begin at 1:30 p.m. with the commencement ceremony starting at 2 p.m. (the ceremony will last approximately one hour). You can view both events by livestream.
We look forward to announcing our speaker for the summer event, and we’ll share more information in the coming weeks.
Caps and gowns
Although caps and gowns are not required for the virtual commencement, Barnes & Noble has created a custom website to provide regalia to those who are interested in purchasing them. You may order your regalia and accessories at https://ohiost.shopoakhalli.com/ for direct shipment to your home. Please note that, due to slower than normal delivery times, to guarantee delivery by August 9, all orders must be placed by Friday, July 24. All orders are non-returnable. Bachelor's and master’s regalia are not available for rental.
Share your memories and join the celebration
In the coming weeks, we’ll be collecting photos from graduates to be featured during the virtual ceremony — including your favorite memories from your time at Ohio State and images of your graduation attire to be included in a virtual processional. You can submit your photos by visiting go.osu.edu/OSUGrad. Those who share photos could be featured during the virtual ceremony, on Ohio State’s social media accounts and by the news media. Be sure to use #OSUGrad on social media to share how you’re celebrating this accomplishment. Whether you’re wearing your cap and gown or sharing this moment with those who supported you through your academic journey, we want to see how you are marking this occasion.
Diploma mailing
While your degrees will be conferred on August 9, we will mail diplomas after the ceremony. Updates will be shared on commencement.osu.edu.
Thank you for your flexibility and perseverance. I am so proud of our Ohio State Class of 2020, and I wish each of you the best of luck.
Good luck with the rest of your semester. Go Bucks!
Sincerely,
Michael V. Drake, MD