College commencement is a deeply meaningful milestone for graduates, representing a culmination of 4 years of hard work, challenges, and growth. This year it is even more so — the Class of 2021, which has endured one-third of college online and has faced several challenges in completing their undergraduate education in the midst of a pandemic, was especially looking forward to a commencement that would rightly recognize graduates and their journey, achievements, and perseverance in overcoming such obstacles during a pandemic.

It was extremely disappointing to hear UCLA announce plans for a virtual commencement, even with the COVID situation continuing to improve and several universities in the area planning to hold in-person commencement. Most, if not all, schools and departments within UCLA, including the Samueli School of Engineering, are holding virtual commencements this year with no in-person ceremonies or conferral of degrees. The UCLA campus is holding a separate procession for graduates to sign up for a time to walk across a stage with no guests allowed. Our class has spent the last one-third (two-thirds for our transfers) of our university education paying full tuition for a fraction of the quality, and we deserve the same commitment from UCLA administration to provide closure to us as other universities in the same county. The virtual plans announced by the school do not give the Class of 2021 the recognition and celebration they deserve, nor do the plans for commencement at a later date. The Class of 2021, which has conducted every aspect of college online over the past year, was holding onto the hope of an in-person commencement to finish a difficult and unprecedented college experience. A virtual commencement does not adequately fulfill this. In addition, for many of us, the events in June will be our last experience with UCLA. Several of us will be moving away and starting the next phase of our lives over the summer, so a commencement at a later date may not even be able to be attended by us and will not be as meaningful.

Some of the universities holding in-person commencement are under the exact same LA County COVID restrictions as UCLA. USC has negotiated with LA County to hold commencement ceremonies with two guests allowed per student in May, an entire month before our commencement. CSU LA has negotiated the same arrangement using the Rose Bowl, our home stadium. It is disappointing that UCLA did not negotiate the same for their seniors within the same county. 

Why UCLA has not put in more effort to plan a safe, in-person gathering has been extremely disappointing to graduates, family and friends. UCLA has had an entire year to plan for safe in-person ceremonies that adhere to public health guidelines; they have staff whose sole job is to plan commencement ceremonies; and yet they simply resorted to a virtual slideshow celebration. It does not feel like administration has made an earnest attempt to plan a meaningful graduation. Instead, it feels as if the school has just taken the easy route of repeating last year’s virtual commencement. However, this year’s circumstances are different from last year’s. Practices about holding safe, outdoor gatherings have been established; vaccination programs are well underway; and COVID cases are dropping to new lows. Additionally, Dodgers Stadium, within LA County, is allowing fans at sports games. UCLA is also allowing athlete’s parents to attend athletics events. Neither of which are a once-in-a-lifetime occasion such as graduation. California plans to lift all restrictions and fully reopen on June 15, two days after commencement weekend. LA County has moved into the least restrictive yellow COVID tier. It is difficult to understand how UCLA can reason to not hold anything in person that parents can attend, not even small, socially distanced celebrations spread out over several days. 

We ask that the Samueli School of Engineering hold an in-person commencement in June with limited guests. The School of Engineering has relatively small departments and given those numbers, a school-wide commencement and department ceremonies with two guests per student could follow public health guidelines. Such a commencement would recognize the Class of 2021 and all that they have poured into this school in a manner that the graduates richly deserve. It also recognizes the essential role family and friends have played in graduates’ journey to this milestone.

We understand there may be concerns about out-of-state or international guests, but USC has stated that those guests can attend if they are fully vaccinated or quarantine upon arrival in the state for 10 days before the ceremony. Additionally, given the month difference between USC's commencement and ours, an even larger portion of the country will be vaccinated and we will be very close to the planned lifting of restrictions in California on June 15.

We ask that the School of Engineering please follow in USC’s and CSU LA’s footsteps and hold an in-person degree conferral and commencement that our parents can attend for the Samueli School of Engineering seniors. While graduation will look different and will be imperfect this year, that is not an excuse to not attempt to plan something meaningful. Given the multitude of universities which are holding in-person commencement ceremonies, it is clearly possible for UCLA to plan an in-person commencement that is safe and properly recognizes this important milestone. Other schools have moved in response to their students’ feedback and the improving COVID situation to have in-person commencements. We plead for UCLA to do the same: listen to student voices and give the Class of 2021 the commencement they deserve. If you agree, please sign this petition.

Additional Information: Schools in SoCal that are hosting in-person commencement 

USC: in-person commencement and conferral of degrees at the Coliseum for Class of 2020 and 2021 with two guests per graduate allowed (https://commencement.usc.edu/

CSU LA: in-person commencement at Rose Bowl for Class of 2020 and 2021 (https://www.calstatela.edu/commencement

UCSD: in-person commencement and conferral of degrees for Class of 2021 with two guests per graduate allowed (https://commencement.ucsd.edu/ 

UC Irvine: in-person procession for Class of 2020 and Class of 2021 with two guests per graduate allowed (https://commencement.uci.edu/

CSU Bakersfield: in-person commencement for Class of 2020 and Class of 2021 with five guests per graduate allowed (https://www.csub.edu/commencement/

CSU LB: in-person commencement at Angel Stadium for Class of 2020 and Class of 2021 with two guests per graduate allowed (https://www.csulb.edu/commencement/ceremony

Chapman: in-person commencement for Class of 2020 and Class of 2021 with unlimited guests allowed (https://www.chapman.edu/students/academic-resources/graduation/index.aspx