Q. When is Commencement 2021?
The Commencement ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 29, 2021 at 10 a.m. Eastern time, rain or shine.
Q. Will the Commencement 2021 ceremony be live or virtual?
It will be both. We have a hybrid Commencement planned this year, with a limited number of seats for in-person guests (due to social restrictions and state guidelines) and a live stream video that will be available to anyone.
Q. Can anyone attend the in-person ceremony?
No. Due to COVID, we have a limited number of seats for each graduate’s guests this year, so only ticket holders will be allowed to attend in person. Each graduate will be issued four tickets to give to their guests, and this number will be strictly enforced at the gate. To be clear: “Guests” includes parents and immediate family.
Q. How do I get my tickets?
Families will be asked to register for their four tickets online. The details are forthcoming.
Q. What if I need more than four tickets?
Due to COVID restrictions, State of N.H. guidelines for large gatherings, and the amount of space we have to spread everyone out at the ceremony, we can only offer each graduate four tickets. However, if there are unused tickets, we will have a system for those who would like extra seats to access them.
Q. Do I need to be vaccinated to attend the ceremony?
No. We are not requiring Commencement guests to be vaccinated. All guests will be required to wear masks and follow our social distancing rules.
Q. Where do I find the link to the live stream?
It will be posted and shared closer to Commencement Day.
Q. Will masks be required at Commencement?
Yes. For the safety of everyone, all attendees will be required to wear a mask and socially distance. This includes guests who are fully vaccinated.
Q. Will the Commencement ceremony be recorded?
Yes, there is a plan in place for a full, live streamed option for anyone who cannot attend in person. And a recording will be available after the ceremony.
Q. Where is the ceremony taking place?
It will be on Brown Field, as it has been in recent years. But please note there will be no rain location, nor a rain date. So watch the weather reports and dress accordingly. In the case of severe weather, it is possible that the ceremony could be postponed for several hours. Please make travel plans with this possibility in mind.
Q. Is there a plan for foul weather?
The ceremony will be on Brown Field rain or shine. There will be no rain location, nor a rain date. So watch the weather reports and dress accordingly. In the case of severe weather, it is possible that the ceremony could be postponed for several hours. Please make travel plans with this possibility in mind.
Q. Will the Class of 2021 be wearing caps and gowns?
Yes, caps and gowns will be distributed to graduates.
Q. When will students receive their diplomas?
Graduates will receive their diplomas at the Commencement ceremony, and our remote learners will receive their diplomas by mail.
Q. What is the plan for students who are learning remotely?
Remote graduates will be recognized much like the graduates last year: There will be a slide show presentation with each grad’s photo, honors, and the college they plan to attend.
Q. Is there going to be a luncheon after the ceremony?
We will not be able to have a full luncheon this year, but a plan for light refreshments is being discussed.
Q. What are the accommodations being made for guests with accessibility needs?
Guests with accessibility needs will have the opportunity to include information about their needs as part of their registration process. A golf cart and special seating areas with parking and restroom access are available for those individuals.
Q. Are family pets allowed at Commencement?
No. Absolutely no pets are allowed on campus during the Commencement ceremony.
Q. What about hotels?
Commencement is on Memorial Day weekend, so we strongly encourage all families to make reservations at local hotels and inns as soon as possible. Please remember that in addition to Wolfeboro’s many hotels and inns, there are very nice places to stay in towns all around the lake, including Gilford, Laconia, Lakeport, Meredith, Moultonborough, and Center Harbor. These towns are all within a 45-minute drive of Brewster, and the ride around the lake in the spring is beautiful!
Q. Will there be items for families to celebrate at home like last year?
Yes, we are planning a Commencement/End-of-Year webpage on the Brewster website that will have celebratory items like downloadable graphics you can use on social media and a lawn sign you can order.
Q. I am fully vaccinated. What do I need to bring to Commencement to be allowed into the ceremony?
You do not need to be vaccinated to attend the ceremony; therefore, vaccinated individuals do not need to bring proof of vaccination.
Q. Will underclass students attend the ceremony?
No. This year, due to the need to have more space for our graduates’ guests to socially distance at Commencement, underclass students will be required to leave campus before Commencement Day and will not attend the ceremony. They are free to leave campus after their last commitment on Wednesday, May 26, and all underclass students must depart campus before 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 27. The exception, of course, is an underclass student who is a family member of a graduate and is invited to attend using one of that grad’s tickets. However, the underclass student will not be allowed to stay on campus in the dorms.
Q. Are these plans final?
As new CDC and state guidelines or restrictions develop over the next three months, these plans could change, and our community will, once again, show how flexible we’ve learned to be in this unusual year. All changes will be carefully considered and quickly communicated via email and the Portal.
Q. Will there be a prom?
A prom committee is developing a proposal for a safe prom. Stay tuned for more details.
Q. Is there going to be some kind of delayed Commencement option for the Class of 2020, whose graduation was 100% virtual last year?
Sadly, not yet. Given the current state of the pandemic, and the many restrictions we are needing to put in place for the Class of 2021 ceremony, we will not be able to invite last year’s grads back to campus just yet. But rest assured, we have the plans brewing for when that can be a safe reality.
Q. What is the plan for Moving Up Day? And the Ivy Address?
Right now, we are planning on live streaming our Moving Up Day and Ivy addresses so that everyone may enjoy them from any location. Details to come.
Q. Is campus open to the public, including alumni who would like to visit as the weather warms up?
No. For the safety of our community, Brewster’s campus remains closed to unscheduled visitors. But we are putting efforts into creating a Reunion Celebration in 2022 that will encompass Brewster’s Bicentennial and other traditions that include welcoming the alumni family back to campus for a wonderful time together.
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