UArizona to allow guests for May graduation ceremonies

PHOENIX — The University of Arizona announced Tuesday it was planning to allow guests for May graduation ceremonies as COVID-19 cases remain low.

The Tucson school will allow up to four guests per graduate for the in-person ceremonies, which are scheduled from May 11-18 at Arizona Stadium.

Previously, the ceremonies were to be limited to students who wanted to participate and be streamed online for friends and family to watch.

UArizona’s COVID-19 positivity rate was 0.3% for the 9,337 tests performed in the past 10 days.

“I know our students and families are going to be incredibly, incredibly excited about this,” President Robert Robbins said during a press conference.

The ceremonies will be the first to be held in person since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

There won’t be a university-wide graduation ceremony next month but rather a series of smaller events.

Graduations will still be livestreamed for those who want to participate remotely.

UArizona said it would reconsider the decision if public health conditions change.

The university is in Stage 3 of its reopening plan, which calls for in-person classes of up to 100 students.

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