Lang
2/27/21
Earlier this month, University of Iowa officials announced that spring 2021 commencement ceremonies would be moving to a virtual format. But one Republican in the Iowa legislature says, not so fast.
Rep. Bobby Kaufmann of Wilton is proposing a bill that would require the state’s public universities to hold in-person graduation ceremonies this spring.
House Bill 246 would also allow each graduate to invite up to two guests, meaning ceremonies for schools such as the UI College of Liberal Arts could host thousands of people.
The bill does encourage the universities, which also include Iowa State and Northern Iowa, to “establish protocols for the control, and prevention of COVID-19, as deemed necessary”.
The UI and UNI have already begun planning for their announced virtual commencement ceremonies. Iowa State has yet to announce a decision on whether its spring commencement will be in-person or virtual.