News 2020: UMass Dartmouth celebrates the Class of 2020 virtually
UMass Dartmouth celebrates the Class of 2020 virtually

More than 1,900 Undergraduate, Graduate, and Law students honored for their hard work

Congrats Class of 2020 Banner

Today, UMass Dartmouth would have held its 2020 Commencement ceremony for Undergraduate students on campus at Cressy Field. Unfortunately, the spread of COVID-19 and the need for social distancing forced the University to cancel spring ceremonies.

While not able to celebrate together, students, faculty, staff, and alumni cheered for each other virtually. The 1,410 undergraduates, 412 graduate students, 45 doctoral students, and 60 law students started their day by receiving an official letter of congratulations from Chancellor Robert E. Johnson. “I am so proud of you for finishing your undergraduate degree. You have persevered during a historic semester,” said Johnson. “To say it was challenging is understating what you went through, but the fact remains that you made it to the end. You earned your degree. No matter how chaotic the world is around you, that will not change.”

Members of the UMass Dartmouth community recorded special messages of congratulations for the Class of 2020 as well as words of advice as they begin the next chapter in their lives.

“You will go down in history, Class of 2020 at UMass Dartmouth, for having persevered and for having faced incredible challenges as you entered this semester and moved towards graduation,” said University of Massachusetts President Marty Meehan.

"Whether you travel the world, or build your lives and careers right here in the Commonwealth, as so many talented UMass Dartmouth alums have done, I’m confident that the world-class education you’ve received has prepared you well for the journey ahead," said University of Massachusetts Trustee Stephen R. Karam.

Students and their families driving in Southeastern Massachusetts are also able to view congratulations messages on billboards across the region.

On May 1, Chancellor Johnson announced that the University is planning for Commencement ceremonies on campus on October 9 and 10, 2020. The UMass Law School Commencement ceremony is planned to take place on October 9 in the Angus Bailey Auditorium in the Campus Center. Undergraduate and graduate Commencement ceremonies are planned to take place on October 10 in the Vietnam Veterans Peace Memorial Amphitheater. While the University is committed to holding on-campus Commencement ceremonies, it will continue to follow all federal and Massachusetts safety guidelines and protocols. If social distancing norms continue into fall 2020, these ceremonies will be rescheduled to spring 2021.