As many of you are finding your place in new opportunities beyond F&M, your former classmates are preparing for a very different residential experience this fall. One of the many changes to campus life will be significant limitations on all college events in accordance with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s current guidance on social gatherings. As you will see on that PA website, indoor events and gatherings of more than 25 persons are prohibited except for activities and gatherings related to educational instruction, as are outdoor events and gatherings of more than 250 persons. These guidelines are in place for the foreseeable future.

Given these constraints and our community’s foremost commitment to each other’s health and safety, and to our great regret, it has become abundantly clear that we cannot hold a December 12th Commencement ceremony on campus and in person as we had intended.

Despite this setback, we remain committed to celebrating the Class of 2020 and your accomplishments – both as students at F&M, and now, as young alumni taking on the world. Rest assured, we will find a safe and meaningful way to commemorate this milestone, and will consult with members of your class in our planning.

We appreciate your resilience, adaptability and understanding as we navigate this new normal together. We will update you when more information becomes available.