New York State will allow indoor and outdoor high school graduations this spring, effective May 1, with attendance caps and, for larger ceremonies, COVID vaccine or testing requirements.
Governor Andrew Cuomo unveiled the state’s graduation ceremony requirements Monday; SUNY Cobleskill has already said it plans several days of virtual ceremonies while local high schools are still in the planning stages.
“We deserve a break and students deserve their day for graduation, and families deserve some good news,” Governor Cuomo said.
Under the regulations released Monday, for outdoor events:
• A ceremony with 200 or fewer attendees will be limited to 50 percent of venue capacity.
Proof of a COVID vaccine or a recent negative test will be required to attend.
• A ceremony with more than 500 people will be limited to 20 percent of venue capacity. Proof of a COVID vaccine or a recent negative test will be required to attend.
• For events of 201-500 people, the limit is 33 percent of capacity with proof of vaccination or a negative test required.
For indoor events:
• For fewer than 100 people, 50 percent of capacity.
• For 100-150, 33 percent of capacity.
• For 151 attendees or more, 10 percent of capacity.
Proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test is required for all.
Masks, social-distancing, and health screening will be required at all graduations, regardless of size.
Despite this, Governor Cuomo said the state is still encouraging schools to do drive-in or virtual graduations, which he called still the safest option.
Just hours before Governor Cuomo’s announcement, SUNY Cobleskill said it will host a series of hybrid events Saturday, May 8-Saturday, May 15 to recognize its Classes of 2020 and 2021. instead of traditional graduations.
Virtual ceremonies will bookend the week, while two in-person “Grad Walks” will take place mid-week, allowing 2021 graduates to be honored by their faculty and cross the stage to receive their diplomas.
All events will be closed to spectators and will be streamed on the college’s website.
“It has been incredible to see, up close, the resiliency of these graduating classes,” said President Marion Terenzio in a written statement.
“They endure, and never lost the enthusiasm and determined spirit it takes to earn their degree.
“As we approach these events, we continue to use the science of pool testing, social distancing, and mask-wearing to guide us, with an added focus of providing information about vaccinations and their importance in our efforts to keep our community safe.”
Earlier Monday, Governor Cuomo also announced that the state will provide a new, separate allocation of 35,000 vaccines for college students in an effort to get them vaccinated before the end of the school year.
Previously, SUNY announced plans to begin vaccinating its residential students.
As of Tuesday, Schoharie County had reported 1,498 cases of COVID, an increase of five over the previous day.