Dear Evening & Weekend Graduates of 2021,

You should have all received Chancellor Christ’s email on February 3 regarding the May 2021 Commencement plans for the UC Berkeley campus.

We echo the disappointment that the state of the Covid-19 pandemic is not where we wanted it to be, making it impossible for us to hold our traditional Commencement ceremony. We, too, fully recognize the importance of Commencement as a capstone to your time at Berkeley Haas, and most of all, as an important celebration of your accomplishments.

The intent of sharing plans for Commencement now is so that you, as well as your families and friends, can better prepare for the most meaningful ways to celebrate your accomplishments — virtually during Graduation Week; in smaller settings at home; or elsewhere in the days and weeks following.

We are working closely with campus on both the virtual commencement ceremony as well as the aspiration for an in-person component. We also have plans to involve students as a key part of the planning process. If you are interested in serving on a planning committee, please email akansara@haas.berkeley.edu.

Here is the current planning for Commencement 2021:

• Virtual Commencement ceremonies will take place during Campus scheduled graduation week (May 15-23).

• Pending local Public Health guidelines and conditions, we will have an in-person walk-through (of students only) at the Greek Theater so that you can process across the stage and receive your scroll in your regalia. We will communicate the date as soon as it is known.

• A decision about adding the in-person component will be made as soon as the Public Health Order confirms it is possible, with a final decision date of ‘go/no go’ expected in mid March. We will communicate the date as soon as it is known.

• At this time, it is not expected or being planned that friends and family will be able to join at the Greek Theater.

• Regalia information will be forthcoming if we are approved for an in-person processional.

• All students will have the opportunity to have their name read aloud, whether in-person at the Greek or virtual.

Thanks for your patience as we make arrangements to celebrate your academic achievement! Go Bears!

Best,
Jamie and the EWMBA Program Office