In-person commencements planned for May at Gannon's Ruskin, Erie campuses

Posted: February 5, 2021

We recognize that our seniors and those expected to graduate this semester are eager to begin planning for this well-deserved milestone.

To address the questions that have already started to come in regarding 2021 commencement, we wanted to give everyone a sketch of what we have in mind, given what we know right now about COVID-19.

We are planning in-person commencement ceremonies in May in both Erie and Ruskin.

However, the ceremonies will be for graduates only. No guests will be permitted at the events because of gathering limits set by the venues. We found this approach to be safe and successful for our commencement ceremony in December.

In Erie, commencement will be held on May 8 at Erie Insurance Arena. The time of the event is still not set, and we are most likely going to split it into two separate ceremonies due to the size of our graduating class. Both ceremonies will happen that day. Given current state guidance, the maximum limit is 450 people in the arena. Other details – such as the Baccalaureate Mass – remain unresolved at this point. We will share further details on these events as the date approaches.

In Ruskin, commencement will be held on May 15 at Prince of Peace Church. Again, no guests will be permitted in the venue due to gathering limits at the church. The Graduate Mass will begin at 9:30 a.m. followed by the commencement ceremony at 11 a.m.

Both ceremonies will either be live streamed or recorded so that your parents, family and friends can share the moment with you. 

We hope that this update given our current guidelines at this time provides you some reassurance as you plan for this milestone. We will continue to share updates or changes to this plan as the dates of our commencement ceremonies approach.

If you have a question or a comment, you can submit it at https://www.gannon.edu/Questions-or-Comments/.