The spring 2020 graduation season arrived at a challenging moment in history. While an in-person ceremony was not possible, Concordia staff, faculty, students and alumni worked together to organize an online celebration of the graduates that fit the moment.
This year's virtual celebration for the Concordia class of 2020 was different for its exclusive use of digital products such as videos, digital yearbooks, web and a social media campaign – all aimed at engaging graduates and their family and friends.
Video messages, virtual yearbooks and more
Enrolment Services produced the virtual year books, which featured photos and messages from students. Many of the thousands of graduates contributed notes of thanks, recorded thoughts for posterity, and expressed thanks to loved ones. Students also shared graduation messages on social media using the event hashtags #CUgrad2020 and #CUalumni.
The virtual celebration also featured a roll-out of a series of videos, each with messaging that encouraged recognition of Concordia’s graduates. This was not a virtual ceremony or a replacement for convocation, but a way to mark this important moment and ritual.
Honorary doctorate recipients from many parts of the world sent in video messages offering words of encouragement and advice to graduates. The list of contributors included the seven spring 2020 honorands: Jennifer Flanagan, David Fung, Dame Julia Higgins, Fibbie Tatti, Lyse Doucet, Margie Gillis and Vikas Swarup.
The Aboriginal Student Resource Centre also created a special video to highlight the achievements of Concordia's indigenous students.
The celebration closed with just over 350 members of the Concordia community participating in a virtual dance party led by DJ Chris Tan (BFA, 11) of Royce & Tan.