Nearly 300 Degrees to be Conferred During UVI's First In-Person Commencement Since Covid Pandemic; Proof of Vaccination or Negative Covid Test Required to Attend
The University of the Virgin Islands will confer close to 300 degrees at its 58th Commencement Ceremonies being held in person this week, UVI made known Wednesday.
2022-05-12 12:17:06 - VI News Staff
The ceremonies will take place on Thursday, May 12, 2022, at the Sports and Fitness Center on the Orville E. Kean Campus in St. Thomas and on Friday, May 13, 2022, on the grounds of the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix. Both ceremonies will begin at 1:00 p.m.
“We are so pleased to be able to celebrate our graduates’ collective success live and in-person this year. As an institution, we treasure the time-honored tradition of launching our newest alumni into the world with pomp and circumstance, and this year it is especially rewarding in light of all that our students have endured and overcome to arrive at this day,” said UVI President Dr. David Hall.
Dr. Robert Franklin, Jr., former President of Morehouse College, will deliver the keynote address.
In addition to celebrating the academic achievements of its newest alumni, the University will bestow honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees upon Dr. Franklin and two distinguished Virgin Islanders: Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith and USVI Commissioner of Health Justa Encarnacion, signaling the University’s appreciation for their outstanding accomplishments and contributions in their respective fields of professional endeavors.
This year’s class speaker on the Albert A. Sheen Campus is Rex Cazaubon III, who will earn a bachelor of science degree in Computer Science with the honors of Magna Cum Laude. Graduating Suma Cum Laude, Kasem Thompson, Jr., will earn a bachelor of arts degree in music education with a minor in communication and will address the Class of 2022 as the class speaker on the St. Thomas Campus.
According to UVI, all graduates, university employees, participants and guests, including infants, will be required to present a ticket for entry to commencement on both campuses. In addition, individuals (except children five years old and under) will be required to submit a valid negative result from a Covid-19 test taken within 24 hours of the ceremony or proof of Covid-19 vaccination to enter the ceremony.
Parking on the St. Thomas campus will be available in the parking lot of the Reichhold Center for the Arts. Shuttle service will be provided to accommodate persons parking at Reichhold Center, the Administration and Conference Center (ACC), and the upper campus.
The ceremonies will be live-streamed on UVI’s YouTube page - https://www.youtube.com/user/UVIvideos, Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/UVI.edu/ and Twitter page- https://twitter.com/uvi_edu. The ceremony’s live stream can also be found on the homepage of UVI’s website – www.uvi.edu.
DaVybe 107.9 FM will broadcast the commencement ceremonies, and a stream will also be available using the TuneIn App.
Covid-19 Protocol for UVI In-Person Commencement Ceremonies
All graduates, participants and guests will be required to show proof of Covid-19 vaccination in order to gain entry to the commencement ceremonies. Attendees must be prepared to present a physical or digital vaccination card together with valid identification; a QR code representing a vaccination record is not acceptable for entry. The vaccination record must indicate that the bearer has received the full dose of protection against Covid-19 (i.e., two doses of Moderna or Pfizer vaccines or one dose of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine). For commencement entry purposes, a booster is not required.
UVI said unvaccinated individuals and those who are unable to present acceptable proof of vaccination will be required to present a negative result from a Covid-19 rapid antigen or PCR test taken within 24 hours at a valid lab, physician or the V.I. Department of Health, together with a valid I.D. Results from self or at-home tests will not be accepted, and results from tests taken outside the 24-hour window will not be accepted.
Children aged five or under are not required to present proof of Covid-19 vaccination or a test result.
With large crowds expected to attend both ceremonies, the use of face masks is not mandatory but strongly encouraged. Attendees are encouraged to be diligent and to take the necessary precautions to be protected from potential exposure to viruses. Where possible, social distancing should be maintained, and guests are encouraged to remain seated with their group of family and friends.
UVI said it has partnered with the V.I. Department of Health to provide free Covid-19 testing the day before each ceremony. The testing schedule and instructions for registering online can be found at: https://www.uvi.edu/coronavirus/uvi-inperson-covid19-protocols.pdf. A limited number of walk-ins and drive-through appointments will be accepted. Do not wait until the last minute. Individuals without a valid 24-hour negative test result or proof of COVID-19 vaccination will not be permitted to enter the ceremony.