For immediate release
Contact: Sean McFarland, MA
Public Relations & Communications Manager
Email: sdmcfarland@carlow.edu
Phone: +1 (412) 260-6807
Virtual Commencement Will Take Place on Saturday, May 8
In-Person Celebration of Graduation Will Take Place on Saturday, May 15
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Carlow University announces that it will hold a Virtual Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 8, and a series of in-person Celebration of Graduation ceremonies throughout the day on Saturday, May 15, on the campus green.
The media are invited to attend the in-person Celebration of Graduation ceremonies on Saturday, May 15.
While the actual conferring of degrees will take place online on May 8, the in-person Celebration of Graduation ceremonies will take place under a tent and will include a stage for individual recognition of graduates. Carlow will be following all appropriate health and safety guidelines during the in-person event, as the university has done since the beginning of the pandemic. Masks will be required for all at this event.
“With the acceleration in vaccinations and warmer weather approaching, we believe it will be safe to gather outside still following CDC guidelines to offer an opportunity to celebrate the important milestone of your graduation,” said Suzanne K. Mellon, PhD, president of Carlow University.
Offering both a Virtual Commencement Ceremony and an in-person Celebration of Graduation allows two life chapters to meet in a manner that is not overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Carlow University is able to honor and celebrate this significant milestone in a method that embraces each graduate’s respective comfort level.
“We will not be staging the events like a commencement with a procession and seating on the stage,” said President Mellon. “Only a select number of staff and faculty may be asked to participate due to managing the number of persons at the event. We are doing this with the safety of our students and guests in mind.”
The Celebration of Graduation will not replace the May 8 virtual Commencement, but it will give students an opportunity to walk across a stage and be recognized for their achievements. Carlow’s Virtual Commencement Ceremony will be available for viewing on Saturday, May 8 at https://www.carlow.edu/commencement/.
About Carlow University
Carlow is a private, co-educational, Catholic university located in the heart of Pittsburgh’s “Eds, Meds, and Tech” district. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1929, Carlow’s curricula and partnerships reflect its strong commitment to social justice; ethical, forward-thinking and responsible leadership; and service to the community that has a meaningful impact. Undergraduate and graduate degrees are offered in two colleges: the College of Health and Wellness and the College of Arts and Sciences. The College of Health and Wellness includes the departments of Nursing, Respiratory Care, Healthcare Data Analytics, Health Management, and graduate degrees in Speech-Language Pathology and the Physician Assistant programs. Graduate programs in Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy will soon be added.
Carlow University also believes in the education and growth of students both inside and outside the classroom, where they can join student government, clubs, and academic honorary societies where they can develop skills in judgment, leadership, analysis, decision-making, and communication. For student-athletes, Carlow’s 14 athletic teams are known as the Celtics, a reflection of the university’s Irish heritage and roots.