North Dakota State College of Science will hold its Commencement ceremony on Friday, August 21 at 4 p.m. outdoors at the Earl “Skip” Bute Alumni Stadium in Wahpeton, N.D. Approximately 600 students from the Wahpeton campus, NDSCS-Fargo location and online are scheduled to graduate, and approximately 160 graduates plan to participate in the Commencement ceremony.

Faculty Senate President Dr. William Shay will serve as the Stage Marshal, Vice President for Academic Affairs Harvey Link will preside as the Master of Ceremonies and NDSCS President John Richman will make remarks and recognitions as well as the presentation of degrees, diplomas and certificates. Student Senate President Marquisia Bashir will also share remarks, and a trio of NDSCS Performing Arts musicians will perform a musical selection.

The NDSCS Commencement ceremony was rescheduled from May 15 in response to COVID-19. The event was moved outdoors and a number of guidelines will be in place throughout the event to help minimize the risk and exposure to COVID-19. These guidelines include a requirement for all graduates and guests to wear a face covering at all times and to maintain a physical distance of at least six feet when possible. Guests will be limited to three individuals per graduate and will be issued a free ticket that will be required for entry. Those guests will be asked to remain seated throughout the event and will remain in a separate area than the graduates.

The Clair T. Blikre Activities Center at the North Dakota State College of Science will reopen on July 1 and will be available for use by students as well as individuals who have fitness memberships.

The Blikre Activities Center was closed in March to help slow the spread of COVID-19. New guidelines have been established for each of the fitness areas in the facility to encourage social distancing and to allow for additional cleaning of equipment.

The facility will be open Monday through Thursday from 6-10 a.m., 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., and 3-6 p.m., and Fridays from 6-10 a.m. and 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Individuals with questions can contact the NDSCS Athletics department at 701.671.2281.

NDSCS has entered the next phase of its COVID-19 re-entry plan, a significant step that will prepare for the in-person return of some students, faculty and guests after June 25. This is the second phase of the College’s four-phase re-entry plan, which creates a path toward a full return to in-person classes and staffing for the Fall 2020 semester.

“Our goal is to focus on minimizing risk and the spread of COVID-19 while continuing to fulfill our mission to educate and train the workforce,” said NDSCS President John Richman. “We are moving forward by following guidelines outlined by health officials and state leaders, and we look forward to welcoming all students and employees back this fall.”

The College’s COVID-19 re-entry plan outlines steps and actions that will be taken during each phase, along with supplies and equipment that will be procured prior to entering the next phase. NDSCS plans to hold limited in-person classes beginning with second summer session classes, which begin on June 29. Additional students and faculty will return for an in-person Technical Skills Session that is scheduled to begin August 3 to provide an opportunity for hands-on instruction that was missed during the Spring 2020 semester due to COVID-19. The College’s rescheduled Commencement ceremony will be held on August 21, and Fall 2020 classes will begin at 4 p.m. on August 24.

North Dakota State College of Science will hold its Commencement ceremony on Friday, August 21 at 4 p.m. at the Clair T. Blikre Activities Center on the NDSCS campus in Wahpeton. The event was originally scheduled to be held on May 15, but was postponed in response to COVID-19.

“We are looking forward to this exciting event when we can celebrate this important milestone with our graduates and their families,” said NDSCS President John Richman.

The new Commencement date is scheduled to take place at the end of the College’s Technical Skills Session, which NDSCS added to provide an opportunity for students in selected academic departments to receive technical instruction that was missed during the Spring 2020 semester due to COVID-19. Commencement will also mark a transition to the Fall 2020 semester, with fall classes scheduled to begin on August 24.

“This is an exciting time for NDSCS as we look to the future and make plans for the upcoming academic year,” said Richman. “We are making the necessary adjustments to allow for the continued health and safety of our campus community as we prepare for in-person classes and events later this summer.”

NDSCS will follow guidelines outlined for resuming gatherings and public events as the College plans for Commencement and in-person classes.