UCSD Prepares for Delayed Class of 2020 In-Person Graduation

Nearly two years after the Class of 2020 completed their degrees, UC San Diego prepares to announce a traditional, in-person commencement ceremony for the 2020 graduates. As of now, registration for the postponed 2020 commencement ceremony is projected to begin in early 2022.

The current plan in place for the Class of 2020 is to hold a traditional, in-person graduation ceremony in June 2022. The Class of 2020 will have its own graduation ceremony that will not be a combined graduation ceremony with the graduating Class of 2022.

Natalee Ellars, the Senior Executive Director of Alumni Engagement, discussed how UCSD will begin to notify students of registration. “We’re going to be sending emails, we will also use social media once the registration is open, and detailing sort of how [2020 alumni] can get involved with ample time for folks if they need to book tickets or [have those discussions with their families], they have time to do that,” Ellars stated.

In April 2020, the UCSD Office of the Chancellor announced the postponement of the traditional in-person commencement ceremony for the Class of 2020 via email, due to precautions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

When plans for a postponed, in-person commencement were announced, the Class of 2020 alumni were displeased. Adarsh Parthasarathy, former Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and 2020 alumnus, expressed his disappointment in stating, “… it really bothered me when the university made a commitment — they said that they would do an in-person graduation… and they completely didn’t acknowledge that.”

Parthasarathy brought these concerns to Ellars. “This conversation happened earnest[ly] when the Class of 2021 commencement activities were announced. Many members of the Class of 2020 felt that they were robbed and Adarsh sent a message to me, as an alumnus and a class of 2020 member, [that he was] outraged because the decision could not have the Class of 2020 be a part of the Class of 2021 ceremony,” Ellars said.

According to Ellars, due to the state of the COVID-19 pandemic in June 2021, UCSD was unable to hold a graduation ceremony for the Class of 2020 and the Class of 2021 during the same graduation season.

“When we did commencement for [the] Class of 2021, that was logistically, a very challenging feat [and] we had to make a decision to limit the number of family members that were participating,” Ellars said. “The introduction of entertaining the Class of 2020 during that time just wasn’t something that made good sense given the conditions of the pandemic. It wasn’t that it wasn’t considered or advocated for, but it was sort of like at the end of the day, you have to say what’s gonna make sense for the safety of everyone involved.”

Parthasarathy and fellow 2020 graduate Kaylee Bashor were both heavily involved in advocating for a postponed commencement ceremony for the Class of 2020. When asked if they would go to the postponed commencement ceremony, both stated they would attend.

Bashor said she is hopeful many will attend but feels as if different groups may miss the graduation due to logistical reasons.

“It’s tough because international students who aren’t here in the States anymore, they’re not gonna be able to celebrate, which I feel is very disappointing. A lot of people have moved on and moved elsewhere, especially out of California… so I’m unsure of how the turnout will be, but I would hope that if they’re able to, they would come and receive that celebration and that closure through something so wonderful as a graduation ceremony,” Bashor said.

Similarly, Parthasarathy stated, “Yeah I’d definitely go just because having put so much work into [advocating for the commencement ceremony], I think it would be nice to just kind of go and close out that chapter.”

Tiffany Lievanos is a Staff Writer for The Triton. You can follow her on Instagram @tiffanylievanosss