Emailed 04-06-2020
Sent on behalf of Richard V. Homan, MD, President and Provost, Dean of the School of Medicine; C. Donald Combs, PhD, Vice President and Dean of the School of Health Professions; and Ronald W. Flenner, MD, Vice Dean for Academic Affairs
As you know, we made the very difficult but necessary decision to postpone commencement and all related activities for the Class of 2020. I want to thank all those students who responded to the commencement survey to help us determine the best way to celebrate your successes in these challenging times.
With your invaluable input, we have decided to host a virtual ceremony Saturday, May 16, 2020. The decision to change the ceremony from in-person to virtual was not easy; however, your survey responses were in support of this alternative.
Institutions of higher education across the country are implementing similar plans to provide a timely commemorative virtual experience while still keeping the community safe. This decision complies with the guidelines provided by the CDC and mandates from the Governor of Virginia to limit all large gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
We know that this commencement is not what you had envisioned for your send-off, nor was it ours. We understand the need to have the personal connection and share time with your mentors, faculty, staff and classmates who have had an impact on your time here at EVMS. At the end of the virtual ceremony, we will share a compilation of well wishes from our faculty and staff to the Class of 2020. In an effort to create more meaningful moments, we are exploring additional opportunities beyond the virtual ceremony.
All graduates will be invited back to participate in the May 2021 Commencement Exercises. If there is enough interest, we will create a separate ceremony for the Class of 2020. If a student cannot attend in 2021, the invitation to walk with other graduating classes will be extended for the subsequent four years.
Additionally, EVMS Alumni Relations is working to create a dedicated Class of 2020 celebration later this year. We will reach out with another poll this summer to help determine the best date.
These are unprecedented times, but we know that we will come through this difficult period with a greater sense of our resilience. EVMS students continue to be a source of inspiration to us, and we are proud of the medical and healthcare professionals that you will soon be and for the role that you will play in the wellbeing of the larger community.
We will continue to share information about virtual commencement as soon as we can. As always, all the latest EVMS updates will be available on the EVMS COVID-19 website.