5 Things Worth Doing Before Commencement

1.

“Prepare a summary report on the financial impact COVID-19 had on your campus. In specific dollars and cents terms, what were the big impacts, what the campus did to respond, and what you expect will be the trailing effects in coming months. It's a good time to take stock of what you as a community have been through.”

David Maddox, NACUBO Consultant and Former COO for the Global Innovation Exchange at the University of Washington

2.

“Write to the graduating students you know and tell them how proud you are that they stuck it out and that COVID will make them more resilient.”

Joanne Yestramski, NACUBO Consultant and Interim Vice President and Chief Business Officer at the University of Maine

3.

“Plan for a safe, in-person expanded graduation that includes the last two years of graduating classes that may walk the stage.”

Rick Anderson, NACUBO Consultant and executive vice president for finance and administration at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

4.

“Find ways to visibly, joyfully thank all students who stayed enrolled on your campus this year and encourage them to return in the fall if they are undergraduates or need additional credits to complete their degree. Reach out to students who withdrew and encourage them to reach out to advising resources if they need support developing a return-to-school plan.”

Terri Dautcher, NACUBO Consultant and Former Faculty Member at Plymouth State University

5.

“Take a collective "pause" if feasible—so much has been changed and been accomplished. Somehow create space to recognize and honor that before we all plow ahead into the next chapter.”

Tom Herbert, NACUBO Consultant and Senior Vice President for University Advancement and President of the Miami University Foundation