TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — Florida State University will hold a virtual commencement ceremony for its fall graduates on Friday, Dec. 11.
The university announced its decision Thursday afternoon.
The decision comes after the State University System of Florida directed public colleges and universities across the state to develop alternative commencement plans in light of CDC recommendations limiting large gatherings.
Officials said the virtual ceremony will incorporate many of the traditional customs like as an opening processional to “Pomp and Circumstance,” the playing of the National Anthem, the Pledge of Allegiance, the official conferring of graduate and undergraduate academic degrees, and the turning of tassels on the graduates’ caps.
This semester, FSU will award degrees to 2,839 graduates: 2,008 bachelor’s degrees, 627 master’s and specialist degrees, 144 doctorates, 12 juris doctor degrees, 45 juris master’s degrees and 3 LLMs.
President John Thrasher will preside over the ceremony, which will be streamed on the university’s website at the following channels:
The ceremony will also be simulcast locally on 4FSU (Comcast Channel 4). The ceremony will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Graduates’ names will be read aloud by their colleges in separate videos to be posted online on Dec. 11. Names will briefly appear at the end of the virtual ceremony and can be found in the digital commencement program that will be posted online at commencement.fsu.eduprior to the ceremony.
Sharon Nicholson, a Professor of Meteorology with the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science, will deliver the commencement address. Ed Burr, chair of the FSU Board of Trustees, and 2020-2021 Student Body President Jonathan Levin will also deliver brief remarks via video.
