The COVID-19 pandemic has altered one of the most important milestone marks in life – college graduation. 

College can be  a place for expanding horizons, blooming into who you are, attaining real world knowledge and much more. 

These are the irreplaceable gifts we are given when deciding to choose to enrich our lives, and when deciding this, we should not need or want recognition . However,  achievements are important to be acknowledged in public. COVID-19 arising required many educational intuitions to hold a virtual ceremony for students or no ceremony at all. 

For instance, Lawrence Technological University (LTC) in Southfield held a virtual commencement ceremony.The President and CEO Dr. Virinder Moudgil started off the commencement. Then the Dean of LTC James Berklan  shared pictures and names of those graduating.

This pandemic does not fall on the shoulders of universities. However, 2020 college graduates who yearned to create the best last year on campus are denied this experience.

I respect and love Oakland University, yet  I was saddened to receive an email from the Office of the Provost, stating, “We look forward to celebrating with you virtually on Saturday, December 19th on the OU YouTube channel where you will hear messages from our President, Provost and University Leadership. Individual departments may be holding separate virtual celebrations, so look for emails from them.” 

There are many factors Oakland University’s board of trustees and president are discussing, such as how future education will look, teaching throughout 2021and graduation. Nevertheless, living in this fast-paced expansion age, graduation for Oakland University’s class of 2020 even in the midst of a pandemic should be acknowledged virtually yet carefully to acknowledge the immense accomplishment.