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Fall 2020 Commencement

UH Manoa Spring 2021 Commencement plans

Posted 3/04/2021

Aloha,

I would like to provide an update regarding our plans for commencement this semester. Unfortunately, we will not be able to offer a traditional commencement ceremony due to the health and safety concerns still presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the associated State and County restrictions. However, we are finalizing plans to provide our graduating students with a commencement experience and photo opportunity.

Based on student feedback, we have learned that one of your biggest disappointments in relation to missing out on commencement is that you are not able to wear regalia and receive your well-earned diploma. The opportunity to see the pride and smiles as our graduates cross the stage each commencement is one of my favorite times of the year, and although we cannot safely engage in a traditional ceremony this year, my team is currently working on designing other graduation experiences that I would like to share with you. 

As part of the Virtual Spring 2021 Commencement, which will feature messages from the UH president, a guest speaker, and student speaker, we would like to offer the following event to be recorded and added to the program which will be available online shortly after the end of the semester.

The preliminary plans are as follows:

  • Graduating students will be grouped by their schools and colleges.
  • Each student will be allowed to bring two guests.
  • Each college/school will have an allotted time to read student names as they receive a “diploma.”
  • Our commencement photographers will capture this moment for those who would like to purchase commemorative graduation photos.
  • All Spring 2020, Summer 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021, and Summer 2021 graduates are welcome to participate.

The colleges and schools will be spread out over the course of several days on and around finals week.

Participation survey

Graduates – We would like your input to help us make an informed decision about the school/college event scheduling. Please take two minutes to complete this brief survey by 4 p.m. Friday, March 12th.   https://forms.gle/k3ndKfjeiGUR4hsZ7 

This is not a registration form. Details about registration for these events will be shared at a later date. We appreciate your patience as we work with the deans to create a master schedule, which will be shared in the coming weeks. Thank you for your patience as we finalize these plans. My team and I will be in touch soon with additional details.

Mahalo nui loa,
Michael Bruno
UH Mānoa Provost

Fall 2020

The completion of this semester, your degree, and this journey came with challenges none of us would have expected. However, you persevered. You overcame. You did not give up.

People will look back on your class as among the strongest and most resilient ever. We are all so proud of you.

Below are links to messages compiled to honor you and your accomplishments. Our hope and expectation is that your experience at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, both in and out of the classroom, will continue to support you as you transition into the next chapter of your life.

 

UH Mānoa Fall 2020 Commencement – Congratulations to Graduates from President Lassner
UH Mānoa Fall 2020 Commencement Speaker, CEO & President of PBS Hawaiʻi Leslie Wilcox
UH Mānoa Fall 2020 Commencement Student Speaker Amalie ʻAlohilani Monlux
UH Mānoa Fall 2020 Commencement Mahalo Messages

Fall 2020

A PDF copy of the printed program with candidate names is available. Friends and family of graduates may request a printed copy by emailing graduate@hawaii.edu

SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

Friday, December 18, 2020 at 4:00pm

Virtual Commencement

For more information contact, June Lee (junefl@hawaii.edu)

COLLEGE OF ARTS, LANGUAGES, AND LETTERS

ACADEMY FOR CREATIVE MEDIA

Friday, December 18, 2020 at 5:00pm

Flyer

For more information contact, Brittany Biggs (bbiggs@hawaii.edu)

COLLEGE OF ARTS, LANGUAGES, AND LETTERS

For more information contact, Jim Yoshioka (jkyosh@hawaii.edu)

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION (EDEA)

Friday, December 18, 2020 at 5:00pm

Intimate event for EDEA students, faculty, friends and family

For more information contact, Marilou Matsuura (edadmin@hawaii.edu)

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

Friday, December 18, 2020 at 5:30pm

For more information contact, Kim Perez Hults, (hults@hawaii.edu)

HAWAIʻINUIĀKEA SCHOOL OF HAWAIIAN KNOWLEDGE

Friday, December 18, 2020 at 5:30pm

Ke Kō a ka Waiakeakua video

Flyer

For more information contact, Liʻi Nāhiwa (nahiwa@hawaii.edu)

JABSOM SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

For more information contact, Deborah Dimaya (dmanog@hawaii.edu)

MYRON B. THOMPSON SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK

PUBLIC HEALTH STUDIES

Saturday, December 19, 2020 at 10:00am

For more information contact, Lisa Kehl (kehl@hawaii.edu)

COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

Saturday, December 19, 2020 at 9:00am

Commencement Site

For more information contact, Kai Noa Lilly (lilly@hawaii.edu)

COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCES

Commencement Message

For more information contact, (cnsinfo@hawaii.edu)

SCHOOL OF LIFE SCIENCES

Friday, December 18, 2020 at 3:00PM

Graduation Photo Celebration

RSVP

For more information contact, Marguerite Butler (mbutler@hawaii.edu)

SHIDLER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

Friday, December 18, 2020 at 4:00pm

Live Ceremony

Flyer

Drive-thru Ceremony, Monday (12/21): 9:00am Tuesday (12/22): 11:00am

Register

For more information contact, Dolly Omiya (domiya@hawaii.edu)

COLLEGE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE AND HUMAN RESOURCES

Friday, December 18, 2020 at 6:00pm

Convocation Site

For more information contact, Dr. Ania Wieczorek (asao@ctahr.hawaii.edu)

Guest Speaker

Nainoa Thompson
President of the Polynesian Voyaging Society & Master Navigator

Student Speaker

Malika M. Dudley
Master of Arts in Communicology

Virtual Graduation Fair 

The Mānoa Bookstore’s Virtual Graduation Fair is now available! Visit the bookstore’s website and enjoy special pricing on grad bundles including graduation attire, 2020 grad T-shirts, alumni gear and much more! In addition, view online resource links for rings, diploma frames, grad announcements, and alumni information. You can also stop by the Mānoa Bookstore at Campus Center to purchase your graduation attire bundles. 

 

Virtual Graduation Fair! Grad Bundles Available: Grad Attire, Annoucements, Rings, Alumni Gear, Resources

November 6, 2020

Aloha UH Mānoa ʻohana,
I have some disappointing but not surprising news given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. After careful deliberation with our leadership team and key staff, the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has made the difficult decision to cancel its traditional in-person fall 2020 commencement ceremony. To be clear, the cancellation of the commencement ceremony will not prevent graduates from earning their degree as long as they have completed all of their degree requirements. Please know how sorry I am that our campus will not be able to gather together for one of the momentous milestones in our students’ lives.

This is, however, the best course of action as our top priority remains the health and well being of our students, their families, our employees and the larger community. Multiple factors were considered including current federal, state and county COVID-19 guidelines, and the fact that they are subject to change with little notice given the uncertainty of the pandemic through December. Although reported COVID-19 cases here in Hawaiʻi appear to have slowed for now, we are cognizant of the record surge currently being experienced across the country and in other parts of the world. 

Many of our individual schools and colleges will be holding virtual ceremonies, and we are committed to honoring our graduates in a future in-person commencement. You can always find the latest information on the commencement website and social media (Twitter and Facebook).

Graduates can expect to receive their diplomas in the mail. For further details about diplomas, see the Office of the Registrar.

I am grateful to our campus community for everything they’ve accomplished in the face of this pandemic, especially our soon-to-be graduates. Please know that your well-earned pride is a result of your years of hard work and achievements during a uniquely challenging time, and nothing can diminish your accomplishment. That is the true essence of commencement. 

I wish you and your loved ones continued success and good health.
Me ke aloha,
Michael Bruno
UH Mānoa Provost

Please check back to this site for periodic updates and follow us on social media:
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Inquiries can be sent to graduate@hawaii.edu