[Important Information for Employees] Attending May 15 Commencement Events and Volunteering to Help

[Office of the President]

Dear Campus Community,

We shared details today with May, August graduates of the Class of 2021 on
attending the Saturday, May 15 in-person Commencement events.

Following New York State Department of Health guidelines for graduation
events and county Health Department guidance, we are planning to hold a
series of five smaller, in-person commencement ceremonies in the Field
House gymnasium. These will be at 8 a.m., 10 a.m., Noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

We are able to have a limited number of teaching faculty and professional
staff attend in socially distanced seats. We are planning the traditional
walk into the gym only for graduates. Faculty will take their seats prior
to the event.

*You may choose which event or events you would like to attend. *We had
planned to assign particular times based on school or major as is
tradition, but this open choice path gives graduates the option and allows
us to better manage the programs.

*Attending*
Here are the key steps to follow in order to obtain a seat for an event:

   - *Now: Think About an Event Time.* We encourage you to talk with grads
   and colleagues ahead of time so you have the best opportunity to attend
   with those you would like to. When a program is full, it is full, so there
   are no guarantees on time.

   - *Tuesday, April 27 at Noon: Get a Ticket. *Links to get a ticket or
   tickets will be sent via email Tuesday. The college ticketing system will
   be used for faculty and staff to sign up for particular times. You can go
   to tickets.plattsburgh.edu ahead of time to set up your account, if you
   haven't already, using your Plattsburgh email address. Tickets will not
   be available after Tuesday, May 11.

   - *Take Note: Vaccine and Testing Requirements Apply.* In order to
   attend, you must have completed your COVID-19 vaccine series at least 14
   days prior to the event or provide proof of a negative diagnostic COVID-19
   test taken within 72 hours of the event. Pool testing is not sufficient. It
   must be a PCR or similar test such as NAAT. This is a state requirement.

   - *Ahead: Get a Bracelet.* Attendees will be asked to pre-check-in the
   week before the event. We will share specific details as we get closer. We
   plan to have tables in the ACC for those who have completed vaccines and
   have a ticket. Attendees will be given a bracelet corresponding to their
   event time. You will be required to arrive a half-hour early for the
   commencement-day event to allow for screening.

More details on Commencement events will be shared as available, both via
email to you and on the college website at plattsburgh.edu/commencement.
Regalia is available for order online through today and also at the Campus
Bookstore. For health and safety reasons, master's degree graduates will
wear their hoods into the program rather than have them presented on stage.

An online Zoom event for graduates who are not able to participate
in-person will be held at 6 p.m.


*Volunteering*As in past years, we are in need of volunteers for duties
ranging from ushers to check-in staff. All volunteers, like formal
attendees, must have completed their vaccine sequence or have a negative
diagnostic COVID test within 72 hours of the events.

Please email president_office at plattsburgh.edu with your availability to
support our graduates.

Because of health department guidelines family and friends will not be able
to attend the in-person ceremonies. We understand this is disappointing. We
will be sharing each graduating group’s celebration via livestream.
Recordings will also be online after the program. Please understand guests
or spectators will not be allowed to enter the Field House or other campus
facilities due to ongoing COVID restrictions.

Office of the President
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