Dear Graduates,

Commencement is almost here! It’s the culmination of the hard work and sacrifice by you, your families, and the faculty and staff who taught and supported you on this journey. This milestone is both special and significant. Our team is hard at work, placing the final touches on creating an experience for you, our honorees, and our guests that will be a special recognition of your remarkable accomplishments in a memorable way.

We are cognizant that within the Class of 2024, many of you did not have the opportunity to experience your high school Commencement due to the COVID pandemic, which was truly sad and disheartening to you and your loved ones. In this way, this upcoming Commencement is even more special for you and the families, friends, and loved ones who have traveled from far and near to be with you.

In this spirit, I am hopeful that we will all do our part as a community to make the experience joyous, memorable, and celebratory. Even with a tough year, our students have demonstrated once again what is so special about being a Clarkie and how, as a community, we can honor differences, respect one another, and support one another. I ask you to bring this same commitment to the DCU.

With this said, there are a few essential details I feel obligated to share with you, and please share with your guests as well:

• The DCU has specific procedures and limitations on what you can bring into the center.
• Please limit all personal items. Bags must be under 8″ x 10″; banners, signs, noisemakers (e.g., bull horns), balloons, and food are not allowed.
• Access to the DCU will entail passing through metal detectors at the entrances. Please arrive between 8 and 8:30 a.m., leaving ample time to pass through the metal detectors.
• Our student code of conduct is still in effect, and disruptors may be removed from the center.

Our collective focus needs to remain on what brings us together: celebrating all of our graduates.
Clark University staff members will be available to support you if you need it. Most of all, have fun! Enjoy yourself! And relish the moment!

You should have received an email from the registrar’s office with additional details for the day. Resources are also available online. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact the Dean of Students and Division of Student Success staff at success@clarku.edu or 508-793-7423.

If I don’t see you before, I’ll see you at the DCU in your regalia! I look forward to celebrating with you and our guests.

Sincerely,

Dean Kiem