Dear Members of the Class of 2020,

I am writing to provide an update on Brown’s plans for Commencement for the Class of 2020. Shortly after I wrote you in May, you received a survey that asked you to indicate your preference regarding the timing for a future Commencement ceremony. With 762 members of the class responding to the survey, more than 60% of respondents indicated a preference for Memorial Day Weekend, May 27-29, 2022, which will be Brown’s regular Commencement and Reunion Weekend. Accordingly, we have selected that option as it has the most support from members of your class.

As previously stated in the May 5 communication, we will celebrate the Class of 2020 with a dedicated Commencement ceremony, complete with senior orations from members of the Class of 2020, alumni speakers, and a march for your class through the Van Wickle Gates. Given the overall schedule of events on Commencement and Reunion Weekend, we anticipate the Class of 2020 ceremony will take place during the morning of Saturday, May 28.

University representatives will work, with input from your class, on other events to take place over the course of the weekend for a truly celebratory event. More information on the full schedule of events will be forthcoming. Your celebration will include the many cherished Commencement and Reunion Weekend traditions that we expect will take place once again in 2022, namely Campus Dance on Friday, May 27, and the full Commencement procession through the Van Wickle Gates on Sunday, May 29.

Alumni Relations is also working to plan several regional events over the 2021-2022 academic year for the Class of 2020, with both in-person and virtual elements so that everyone can participate. Further information will be forthcoming from Alumni Relations later in the summer and early fall. We are also working on plans to celebrate members of the Class of 2020 from the Graduate School and the Warren Alpert Medical School, and information and surveys will be forthcoming to those groups as well.

With dates now selected, planning for the weekend’s activities will begin in earnest. More than 160 members of your class expressed interest in being part of an advisory group to aid in planning. That enthusiasm is terrific, although the numbers are a bit large for a planning committee. We expect to hold one or more town halls in the coming months to provide updates on planning, answer questions and hear from you directly. In addition, we also plan to form a smaller advisory group that would meet monthly for at least two hours at a time. Those who are interested and able to make that time commitment should email universityevents@brown.edu.

Commencement is such a special part of the Brown tradition. I look forward to welcoming the Class of 2020 back to campus in May 2022.

Sincerely,

Christina H. Paxson
President