Education

Duke reverses policy, will allow remote learners and early graduates to participate in spring commencement

Duke University plans to hold an in-person graduation ceremony on May 2, little more than a month away, but some students say they're frustrated with one condition -- you can't take part in the ceremony if you didn't participate in the university's COVID-19 surveillance testing program this spring.

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By
Aaron Thomas
, WRAL reporter & Sydney Franklin, WRAL multiplatform producer
DURHAM, N.C. — Days after some Duke University students expressed frustration that those who didn't participate in the university's COVID-19 surveillance testing program couldn't participate in in-person graduation, the university has updated its policy.

Duke President Vince Price said in a letter on Wednesday that public health trends and the increased access to COVID-19 vaccines allowed the university to allow remote seniors and early graduates to return for in-person graduation.

Students who wish to participate in graduation are asked to register their interest in attending by April 15. The university plans to hold the graduation ceremony on May 2.

Students are still required to observe the Duke Compact guidelines on wearing a mask, social distancing and attending gatherings.

On Monday, graduates who disapproved of the changes spoke with WRAL News about the petition they created calling on Duke to change its policy.

"I've been looking forward to this for so long," said Duke graduate Charlie Gelman. "Since there's no ceremony for December grads, they tell you, 'Hey, do you want to graduate with the year before you or the year after you?' Obviously, we're like, 'Yeah, we want to graduate with the class of 2021.'"

A previous letter from Price stated who gets to participate in graduation, saying the university hopes "to offer an in-person event in Wallace Wade Stadium for members of the undergraduate Class of 2021 who have been regular participants in our COVID-testing surveillance program.”

That meant early graduates, like Gelman, and students who chose to learn remotely during spring semester were originally left out.

Gelman and another recent graduate created a Change.org petition, which garnered nearly 1,050 signatures.

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