This message was shared with the students, faculty and staff of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa on March 30, 2021.
Aloha,
The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa commencement planning team, in collaboration with the campus colleges and schools, is proud to provide a hybrid commencement celebration event for spring 2021. To ensure you have the latest, most accurate information for planning purposes, we are sharing further details about the upcoming events.
Special messages from a guest speaker, student speaker and President David Lassner will be recorded and posted online the week after finals. In addition, students will have the opportunity to participate in an in-person diploma presentation and photo session (two guests allowed per student). Although we cannot offer our traditional commencement celebration, we believe the following will help students celebrate and commemorate this amazing milestone in a safe, responsible environment:
- Students are invited to wear their cap and gown to a photo session at Bachman Hall. Commencement regalia is available through the UH Mānoa Bookstore;
- Students’ names will be read while they receive a diploma scroll from a college/school administrator;
- Each student will have three photos taken by the commencement photographer, which will be available for viewing and purchase via an online link emailed shortly after the event:
- one individually with their diploma scroll;
- one with the college/school dean;
- and, one with their two guests;
- PhD students will follow a slightly different protocol from the other graduates. In lieu of taking a photo with the dean, PhD students will take a photo with their advisor or a member of their committee. They will not be hooded so should arrive wearing their hood. If a committee member is not available, the student will take a photo with the dean;
- Individual schools and colleges will be assigned a time for their photos May 13–16 (see schedule below);
- Colleges’ and schools’ assigned times may be further broken down by department or degree. Further details regarding specific reporting times will be sent prior to the photo sessions;
- All spring 2020, summer 2020, fall 2020, spring 2021 and summer 2021 graduates are welcome to participate;
- All photo sessions will be recorded and available on the commencement site shortly after the close of the semester.
Registration is scheduled to open next week. The deadline to register is May 1. For further information and to register for the event, please check the commencement website.
Whether or not graduates participate in this photo session, they are still eligible to participate in any future in-person ceremonies at the Stan Sheriff Center when we are able to safely have them again.
We understand that this is not the ideal way in which you would like to celebrate your accomplishments through years of hard work and commitment. However, we do hope that this will be a special opportunity for you to enjoy this moment with loved ones.
Mahalo,
UH Mānoa Commencement Team
Photo schedule
John A. Burns School of Medicine—Thursday, May 13, 5 p.m.
William S. Richardson School of Law—Thursday, May 13, 6 p.m.
School of Architecture—Thursday, May 13, 7 p.m.
Hawaiʻinuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge—Friday, May 14, 3 p.m.
School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology—Friday, May 14, 4 p.m.
College of Social Sciences—Friday, May 14, 5 p.m.
College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources—Saturday, May 15, 9 a.m.
College of Arts and Sciences—Interdisciplinary Studies—Saturday, May 15, 11 a.m.
College of Engineering—Saturday, May 15, 1 p.m.
School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene—Saturday, May 15, 3 p.m.
College of Arts, Languages and Letters (formerly Arts and Humanities, School of Pacific and Asian Studies, and Languages, Linguistics and Literature)—Saturday, May 15, 4:30 p.m.
Shidler College of Business, including the School of Travel Industry Management—Saturday, May 15, 6 p.m.
College of Natural Sciences—Sunday, May 16, 10:30 a.m.
Thompson School of Social Work and Public Health—Sunday, May 16, 1 p.m.
College of Education (undergraduate)—Sunday, May 16, 3:30 p.m.
College of Education (advanced degrees)—Sunday, May 16, 6 p.m.
