April 6, 2021
Dear WSU Pullman Class of 2021:
There is something incredibly special about commencement. It is a life
milestone that marks the closing of one chapter and the opening of another,
filled with hope and possibility. Congratulating new graduates is one of my
favorite moments of each academic year.
While this spring’s commencement ceremony won’t be the in‑person celebration
we all hoped for, that doesn’t lessen the exceptional achievements and successes
of the graduating class of 2021. As Cougs, you have tackled incredible challenges
the past 14 months with unwavering resolve. On behalf of the entire WSU community,
thank you for your tremendous resiliency and perseverance. We are so very proud
of you.
To honor your accomplishments, we will host a system-wide virtual spring
commencement celebration at 10:00 a.m. PDT on Saturday, May 8. If you haven’t already,
please register by April 12. All are invited to watch the event, which will be
livestreamed on YouTube.
We are seeing signs of progress in reducing the spread of COVID‑19, including
an increase in vaccine distribution and access. We must remain diligent, however,
and that means following the Washington Department of Health’s stated public health
guidelines surrounding commencements and graduations. Unfortunately, at this time,
an in‑person commencement ceremony simply far exceeds what is permissible.
The WSU Pullman campus will host a drive-through graduation celebration on
Saturday, May 1. Additional details about the event will be shared in the coming
weeks.
We know that many of you are disappointed with this decision. Please know, we
did not come to it lightly. We remain committed to making these activities
meaningful for you and your family, and look forward to hosting an in‑person
celebration as soon as it is safe to do so.
Congratulations on achieving this extraordinary goal. I look forward to
honoring the class of 2021.
Go Cougs,
Kirk Schulz, President
Washington State University
