COLUMBUS – Ohio State is planning its first non-virtual commencement ceremony in nearly a year and a half.
The university plans to host a modified in-person spring commencement at Ohio Stadium on May 9, the first non-virtual ceremony since late 2019, Pres. Dr. Kristina Johnson announced Wednesday.
Two ceremonies are scheduled to take place on that date with another ceremony honoring 2020 graduates planned for Aug. 8.
Face coverings will be required and attendance at the ceremonies in May will be capped at 13,500 with each graduate allowed two guests as precautions against COVID-19 infection. A livestream will be available for those who cannot watch in person.
Each “pod” of three, including the masked graduate, family, or friends, will be separated by six feet from others and the graduates will receive diplomas on their way into the stadium.
The university celebrated Ohio State’s spring, summer and autumn 2020 graduates in virtual commencement ceremonies and will recognize them as part of the Aug. 8 commencement, which will be moved to the stadium for safety reasons.
The last in-person commencement at OSU was on Dec. 15, 2019, when U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown delivered an address to about 3,600 graduates at the Schottenstein Center.
Commencement ceremonies since then have been held virtually to combat the spread of the coronavirus.