The University of Texas at El Paso will host a single virtual Commencement ceremony for its Spring and Summer 2020 graduates.
“Commencement is an important celebration for our students and their families. We really wanted to make this happen in-person,” President Heather Wilson said. “But an in-person ceremony of this size with the persistent level of disease in our region just doesn’t make sense. We are very proud of our graduates and look forward to celebrating their accomplishments virtually and safely.”
The virtual Commencement will be available online starting at 5 p.m. Saturday, September 12, 2020, and will continue to be available for on-demand playback.
All UTEP faculty, staff, students, and the more than 3,000 graduates and their families are encouraged to view the ceremony via the main UTEP Commencement web page.
The virtual Commencement will replace the May graduation ceremonies that were previously postponed due to the pandemic. The University’s decision to hold a single ceremony came after thoroughly reviewing community health conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The virtual ceremony will feature remarks from President Wilson and Provost John Wiebe, and the traditional conferral of the degrees.
To commemorate UTEP’s Class of 2020, the “Mining Minds” pickaxe sculpture at the Sun Bowl-University roundabout will be illuminated in blue and orange on Saturday evening.
“Mining Minds” is an iconic piece of public art installed in 2010 to enhance the UTEP campus. At night, orange lights brighten the steel structure while light from LEDs emanate from the perforated “ones” and “zeroes” at each end of the pick.
The University illuminates the pick in blue and orange on special occasions such as historic dates, major annual milestones and celebrations of special accomplishments.
To learn more about “Mining Minds” click here.
For additional information about the Virtual Commencement, please visit the UTEP Graduation website or contact the Office of University Relations at [email protected] or call 915-747-8244.
