Coronavirus/COVID-19 Information

Chico State Adds In-Person, Grads-Only Commencement Ceremonies for Classes of 2020 and 2021

After careful consideration, Chico State will hold multiple in-person Commencement ceremonies to honor its graduating Classes of 2020 and 2021. The ceremonies are limited to graduates only with no spectators.

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Announced: April 9, 2021, 3 p.m.

To: Campus Community
From: President Gayle Hutchinson

After careful consideration, CSU, Chico will hold multiple in-person Commencement ceremonies to honor its graduating Classes of 2020 and 2021. The ceremonies for the Class of 2020 will take place at University Stadium on May 16, 2021. Ceremonies for the Class of 2021 will take place May 20–23, 2021. Smaller virtual department and program commencement ceremonies for 2021 graduates also will take place over the same weekend, as previously announced.

In order for the University to comply with health and safety guidelines, all in-person ceremonies will be limited to graduates only. The ceremonies will be livestreamed so family and friends can watch graduates cross the stage without putting themselves or others at risk during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

After more than a year of uncertainty and challenges related to the pandemic, we are excited that our 2020 and 2021 graduates will have an opportunity to experience an in-person Commencement. These additions to the planned virtual-only ceremonies are possible because Butte County dropped into the less restrictive Orange Tier, vaccinations have become more available, and the California Department of Public Health has updated its guidelines for outdoor gatherings and graduation ceremonies. Graduates for all ceremonies will be socially distanced on the field at University Stadium and required to wear masks. 

The schedule for both the virtual and in-person ceremonies will be announced on April 15. Commencement registration will re-open on Friday, April 16 for both virtual and in-person events. Graduates who have already registered and would like to participate in person must reregister and indicate their intent. All graduates must complete the virtual ceremony requirements, as content from that site will be used in the in-person ceremony. Regalia is required for in-person graduates, will be shipped to graduates’ homes, and must be ordered by April 29. 

We strongly encourage parents, family members, and friends to follow California Department of Public Health guidelines for non-essential travel and refrain from coming to Chico for Commencement weekend. We join everyone in wanting to celebrate our graduates' achievements to the fullest extent possible, but we are committed to doing so in a way that prioritizes the health and safety of our campus and greater community.

I’d like to thank the countless members of Chico State’s faculty and staff who have worked tirelessly to help make this possible. And most of all, I’d like to thank our students who have been patient and understanding as the situation and guidelines with the pandemic change nearly daily. As things are heading in the right direction, I’m optimistic that better days are ahead and Commencement is just the first of many in-person experiences on-campus in the future.

More details will be announced in the coming days, in the meantime, please check the Commencement website for updates.