Graduates from the University of Houston – Clear Lake (UHCL) and their families were notified on March 12, 2021 by email from the Office of the Registrar that our 2021 graduation commencement ceremony would be held virtually due to COVID-19. However, this is not fair to the graduates of 2021 especially since our sister UH system- the University of Houston has announced their in-person ceremony with the option to participate via live-stream for those who cannot attend.

Many other institutions around the state have also granted their students an in-person graduation commencement such as San Jacinto College, University of Texas at Austin, University of Texas at Arlington, Rice University, Texas State University, and Texas A&M University. Other universities such as Baylor University have sent out participation forms to work alongside students and their families. Sam Houston State University has creatively outlined 9 in-person ceremonies so that all students can celebrate this once in a lifetime milestone.

The decision to have a virtual commencement was made without the input of the larger UHCL campus community and without listening to the voices of their students in the form of surveys or participation forms. The decision to inform us of this news by means of the university’s Registrar’s Office as opposed from our administration further drives home the hurt.

Having this decision made for us is a huge hit to our not only our motivation, but also to our morale, and mental health. We have diligently worked to produce what is necessary of us to be able to cross that stage amidst a pandemic, mental fatigue, heartbreak, and challenges due to the recent winter storm.

We strongly propose that the 2021 graduation commencement be moved to an in-person event. This event should still have COVID-19 safety measures in place such as masks coverings and social distancing protocols. UHCL prides itself as an innovative, student-centered, institution that cares, and we believe UHCL has the capacity to imagine and map out alternate measures to ensure a successful 2021 Spring commencement ceremony. This could look like, having majors/degrees be done in shifts at different times of the day or holding the ceremony outside in our very new UHCL Campus Recreation and Wellness outdoor field or other alternatives.

We have been through enough and we deserve some form of humanity, compassion, and respect. We deserve to cross a stage to honor our fight throughout this pandemic for ourselves and for our families. We deserve to celebrate our hard work and honor our achievements for the past 3 to 4 years by having and in-person graduation commencement ceremony.

Therefore, we urge the University of Houston – Clear Lake to reconsider having a virtual only event. There is still time to act and reverse course. We ask that the university listen to their students!