Table of Contents

Newberry College looks forward to celebrating the accomplishments of the resilient graduating classes of 2020. Please read the information below for each class' ceremony.

Jump to Class of May 2020 (Saturday, Nov. 21 • 10 a.m.)

Jump to Class of December 2020 (Saturday, Nov. 21 • 2:30 p.m.)

The Class of May 2020

Saturday, Nov. 21 • 10 a.m. • Eleazer Arena

Personal Health and Safety

• Face masks and social distancing are required at all times on campus

• Each graduate and guest will have their temperature checked

• Anyone with a fever of more than 99.5°F (37.5°C), with symptoms of COVID-19, or anyone who has been exposed to COVID-19 in the last 14 days should not attend

  • If a graduate is unable to attend, he/she is invited to participate in any upcoming commencement exercises

• Hand sanitizer will be available at Yost Portico, Eleazer Arena, and MacLean Gymnasium

• Follow the instructions of event staff

• No flowers or gifts will be allowed in the arena

• Please don’t congregate before or after ceremony. To maintain a safe and healthy environment, graduates and their guests are encouraged to leave campus as soon as possible after the ceremony

Guests

Each graduate may bring up to 4 guests (including lap-held infants and small children) to attend the ceremony in Eleazer Arena, and up to 2 additional guests who may view the ceremony via livestream from the overflow venue at MacLean Gymnasium. Please note: MacLean Gym is not handicapped-accessible. Graduates must RSVP for all their guests. Click here to RSVP. Buying and selling of tickets is prohibited. All guests for each graduate must enter the viewing venue, either Eleazer Arena or MacLean Gym, together as a pod.

Attire

Graduates should arrive in caps and tassels, gowns, and hoods, which have been sent to each individual. If you did not receive your cap and gown, please reach out to Cindy.Shealy@newberry.edu. If you do not have a cap and gown, please wear dark business attire.

Arrival

Arrive early enough to check in, have your photo taken with your hood, line up for the processional, and allow guests to be seated. Graduates and guests should report to the Yost Portico at the front entrance of Holland Hall to check in. Near the check-in area, there will be a place for family members to place the hood on the graduate. A professional photographer will be in place to capture the moment.

After the photograph, graduates should move to Bachman Court, where student marshals will organize the line for the processional (in case of inclement weather, the processional will line up in Eleazer hallways). Arena doors will open at 9 a.m. Guests for each graduate should proceed as family units to either Eleazer Arena (4 guests per graduate), or MacLean Gym (overflow seating: 2 guests per graduate). There are three entrances to Eleazer Arena: two at the front of the building, facing Bachman Court, and one on the side facing MacLean Gym and the Clarkson Swimming Pool. Staff will be in place to monitor the flow of traffic and help maintain social distancing. If one exits the arena once admitted, no re-entry will be allowed.

The Ceremony

Graduates will process in, following instructions and taking cues from the platform party during the ceremony. Each graduate will be recognized and walk across the stage. Due to social distancing guidelines, graduates will not meet the president at center stage. After the ceremony, graduates will process out after the platform party, and guests will be dismissed in small groups.

Parking & Accessibility

Graduates and guests are encouraged to park in the Athletic Club parking lot, on the College Street side of Setzler Field. For other parking areas, click here to view the campus map. Handicapped parking is reserved at the Smeltzer Hall and Keller Hall lots (#14 and #25 on the map). Shuttle service will be available at Wiles Chapel (building #13). For drop-off only, enter the Smeltzer Hall lot (#14) from College Street, and staff will be stationed to direct guests.

Disability seating: The majority of Eleazer Arena includes bleacher-style seating. If a member of your party requires floor-level seating, alert a member of event staff. A guest and one assistant may be seated there.

ASL interpreter service: If you require a sign language interpreter, please email Lisa.Duncan@newberry.edu and we will seat you accordingly.

Live Streaming

The ceremony will be streamed for all graduates, families and friends who cannot join us on Nov. 21. The link to the stream will be available the week of commencement.

Photography

Professional photographers will be available for the following photo opportunities:

• Hooding at check-in at Yost Portico

• On-stage photo

• Off-stage Alumni Association photo

  • Graduates may remove their masks for this photo, but the photographer cannot prompt them to remove them

The photographer will contact graduates when proofs are available to be viewed online and purchased.

It is our goal to provide you with a quality, memorable commencement ceremony. If you have any questions or concerns, please email Lisa.Duncan@newberry.edu or call 803.321.5647 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

The Class of December 2020

Saturday, Nov. 21 • 2:30 p.m. • Eleazer Arena

Commencement Practice

All graduates must attend commencement practice, at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 20. Tickets, caps, gowns, tassels and academic hoods will be distributed at practice. You must notify Whitney.Merinar@newberry.edu in writing in advance if you will be unable to attend rehearsal but plan to participate in the ceremony.

Personal Health and Safety

• Face masks and social distancing are required at all times on campus

• Each graduate and guest will have their temperature checked

• Anyone with a fever of more than 99.5°F (37.5°C), with symptoms of COVID-19, or anyone who has been exposed to COVID-19 in the last 14 days should not attend

  • If a graduate is unable to attend, he/she is invited to participate in any upcoming commencement exercises

• Hand sanitizer will be available at Yost Portico, Eleazer Arena, and MacLean Gymnasium

• Follow the instructions of event staff

• No flowers or gifts will be allowed in the arena

• Please don’t congregate before or after ceremony. To maintain a safe and healthy environment, graduates and their guests are encouraged to leave campus as soon as possible after the ceremony

Guests

Each graduate may bring up to 4 guests (including lap-held infants and small children) to attend the ceremony in Eleazer Arena, and up to 2 additional guests who may view the ceremony via livestream from the overflow venue at MacLean Gymnasium. Please note: MacLean Gym is not handicapped-accessible. Graduates must RSVP for all their guests. Click here to RSVP. Buying and selling of tickets is prohibited. All guests for each graduate must enter the viewing venue, either Eleazer Arena or MacLean Gym, together as a pod.

Attire

Graduates should arrive in caps and tassels, gowns, and hoods, which have been sent to each individual. If you did not receive your cap and gown, please reach out to Cindy.Shealy@newberry.edu. If you do not have a cap and gown, please wear dark business attire.

Arrival

Arrive early enough to check in, have your photo taken with your hood, line up for the processional, and allow guests to be seated. Graduates and guests should report to the Yost Portico at the front entrance of Holland Hall to check in. Near the check-in area, there will be a place for family members to place the hood on the graduate. A professional photographer will be in place to capture the moment.

After the photograph, graduates should move to Bachman Court, where student marshals will organize the line for the processional (in case of inclement weather, the processional will line up in Eleazer hallways). Arena doors will open at 1:30 p.m. Guests for each graduate should proceed as family units to either Eleazer Arena (4 guests per graduate), or MacLean Gym (overflow seating: 2 guests per graduate). There are three entrances to Eleazer Arena: two at the front of the building, facing Bachman Court, and one on the side facing MacLean Gym and the Clarkson Swimming Pool. Staff will be in place to monitor the flow of traffic and help maintain social distancing. If one exits the arena once admitted, no re-entry will be allowed.

The Ceremony

Graduates will process in, following instructions and taking cues from the platform party during the ceremony. Each graduate will be recognized and walk across the stage. Due to social distancing guidelines, graduates will not meet the president at center stage. After the ceremony, graduates will process out after the platform party, and guests will be dismissed in small groups.

Parking & Accessibility

Graduates and guests are encouraged to park in the Athletic Club parking lot, on the College Street side of Setzler Field. For other parking areas, click here to view the campus map. Handicapped parking is reserved at the Smeltzer Hall and Keller Hall lots (#14 and #25 on the map). Shuttle service will be available at Wiles Chapel (building #13). For drop-off only, enter the Smeltzer Hall lot (#14) from College Street, and staff will be stationed to direct guests.

Disability seating: The majority of Eleazer Arena includes bleacher-style seating. If a member of your party requires floor-level seating, alert a member of event staff. A guest and one assistant may be seated there.

ASL interpreter service: If you require a sign language interpreter, please email Lisa.Duncan@newberry.edu and we will seat you accordingly.

Live Streaming

The ceremony will be streamed for all graduates, families and friends who cannot join us on Nov. 21. The link to the stream will be available the week of commencement.

Photography

Professional photographers will be available for the following photo opportunities:

• Hooding at check-in at Yost Portico

• On-stage photo

• Off-stage Alumni Association photo

  • Graduates may remove their masks for this photo, but the photographer cannot prompt them to remove them

The photographer will contact graduates when proofs are available to be viewed online and purchased.

Senior Surveys

The senior survey for December graduates is open now through Friday, Nov. 20, at 11:59 p.m. Contact Christina.Wendland@newberry.edu or Susanne.Nelson@newberry.edu with questions.

Mailbox Keys

Graduates should turn in their mailbox keys to the campus post office in Wright Hall by Tuesday, Nov. 24, at 3 p.m. A $50 re-keying fee will be assessed if the key is not returned, or if it is returned to the wrong place.

It is our goal to provide you with a quality, memorable commencement ceremony. If you have any questions or concerns, please email Lisa.Duncan@newberry.edu or call 803.321.5647 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.