This past May was supposed to be a monumental time for many graduating students at SUNY Oneonta. Unfortunately, COVID-19 turned the world upside down and brought everything to a halt and so they were told in March that their graduation ceremony would be postponed to August 29th. While it is good that the college is now allowed to open back up for the Fall semester, the Class of 2020 has now been told that their graduation ceremony has been cancelled. In the notice to the students, the college also said that there will not be a Virtual Ceremony for them because they are going to concentrate on a ceremony in 2021 for them but would need permission for that first so that may not even happen. Many of the students of the Class of 2020 may not even be able to attend a ceremony for them next Spring if they are working full time jobs, living in another state etc.

While some people may not think this is a big deal, the students and their families do. These students have all worked extremely hard over the past four years and most especially during their last semester at Oneonta because of the pandemic. Instead of just receiving their diploma in the mail and being told that they will receive their cords if they go to the possible ceremony in 2021 otherwise that will also be mailed. That is not fair to any of the students.

Please sign this petition in support of the Class of 2020 so that SUNY ONEONTA can see and possibly give them the recognition that they all deserve now.