Several large universities in the state including the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville have announced plans for spring commencement ceremonies with face covering requirements and distanced seating.
For some large schools like UA-Fayetteville, this involves repeating similar protocols used in December.
Other schools, like Arkansas Tech University and the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, are holding in-person commencement ceremonies for the first time since the pandemic began.
UAFS will have commencement ceremonies May 1 for last year's graduates and then three days of ceremonies May 7-9 for this year's graduates, with a limited number of attendees for each ceremony. The events are scheduled for the Stubblefield Center and will require those in attendance to wear masks.
UAFS Chancellor Terisa Riley said she would participate in however many ceremonies are required to honor graduates, as "we have got to get back to face-to-face interactions, and we have got to celebrate these achievements and accomplishments."
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Riley made the comments Monday in an online chat with those in the campus community. UAFS last spring canceled its commencement ceremony and opted for virtual commencement ceremonies this past December for fall 2020 graduates.
Arkansas Tech University is planning for a face-to-face commencement for 2021 graduates on May 8 for the Russellville campus that will follow state Department of Health guidelines. The university previously held virtual commencements for 2020 graduates.
"Rather than being held inside John E. Tucker Coliseum as would typically be the case, the ceremonies are being planned as an outdoor event at Thone Stadium at Buerkle Field (the ATU football stadium)," Arkansas Tech spokesman Sam Strasner said in an email. The school's website states that a May 7 ceremony is planned for 2020 graduates.
Other schools in the state, after previously holding virtual commencement, also are planning for in-person events but have yet to finalize their plans.
Officials at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff have tentatively scheduled an in-person, outdoor commencement ceremony for May 8 at Simmons Bank Field, said Robert Carr Jr., the university's provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs.
"At this ceremony, we will adhere to whatever the most current [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] guidelines are at the time," Carr said in an email.
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is "having a 'hybrid' commencement, which will blend a virtual, video commencement program with an in-person experience," Erin Finzer, UALR's associate vice chancellor for academic affairs, said in an email.
Finzer said an announcement will be made likely next week with more details.
The state Department of Health approved plans from UA-Fayetteville for its December ceremony and continues to review protocols for commencement events, department spokeswoman Danyelle McNeill said.
"Commencements for both indoor and outdoor (an event where the public is invited) must submit a plan when over 100 people are expected," McNeill said in an email.
UA-Fayetteville on Thursday announced that its spring commencements will take place May 6-8, with distanced seating and face coverings required. Ceremonies are being scheduled for Bud Walton Arena and other indoor locations.
In December, UA-Fayetteville's in-person ceremonies had more than 1,400 students participating, spokesman John Post said. For the upcoming spring ceremonies, more than 800 students have registered to attend so far, with the deadline to register over a month away.
The University of Central Arkansas is planning for May 7-8 commencement ceremonies to follow distancing and mask guidelines used in the university's December ceremony, university spokeswoman Amanda Hoelzeman said.
"It will likely be outside, but we are still working on those details," Hoelzeman said in an email.
Arkansas State University last year held outdoor commencement ceremonies and plans to hold its spring commencement on May 8 at Centennial Bank Stadium. In a similar December ceremony, 603 students signed on to participate, spokesman Bill Smith said.