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Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Monday that indoor and outdoor commencement ceremonies for New York grade schools, colleges, and universities are allowed to be held at a limited attendee capacities starting May 1.
The number of people allowed in the venue depends on the event’s size and location (e.g. stadium, arena, arts, and entertainment venue), Cuomo said.
The regulations for outdoor graduation commencements are as follows:
- Large-scale ceremonies of over 500 people will be limited to 20 percent capacity.
- Medium-scale ceremonies with 201 to 500 people will be limited to 33 percent capacity.
- Small-scale ceremonies with 200 people or two attendees per student will be limited to 50 percent capacity.
For indoor ceremonies, the state is requiring the following:
- Large-scale ceremonies of over 150 people indoors will be limited to 10 percent capacity.
- Medium-scale ceremonies of 101 to 150 people indoors will be limited to 33 percent capacity,
- Small-scale ceremonies of up to 100 people or two attendees per student will be limited to 50 percent capacity. Proof of a recent negative test result or proof of completed immunization is optional.
All event organizers and venues hosting these ceremonies must follow the state’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols, including requiring face masks, implementing social distancing measures, health screenings, and contact tracing.
“We’re once again approaching the end of the academic year which means we need strict rules in place to ensure commencement ceremonies are done safely in the context of the ongoing pandemic,” Gov. Cuomo said. “With more people getting vaccinated every day, we are so close to the light at the end of the tunnel, but we all need to continue being vigilant and I am urging everyone to celebrate smart.”
Detailed guidance for graduation events is available here.
Continue to follow greaterlongisland.com for updates on COVID-19 state guidelines.
Top: Graduates sitting in chairs during ceremony, photo by Jane Carmona via Unsplash.
