Award: Bronze

Institution: Northeast Ohio Medical University

Title of Entry: 2020 NEOMED Commencement

About this Entry: At Northeast Ohio Medical University, our small size and culture often afford us the ability to innovate and act quickly, particularly during times of crisis.

While others were understandably deciding to either cancel or postpone graduations, NEOMED was one of only a few planning a commencement ceremony.

Our graduates had been trained as leaders to be able to respond during a time of crisis. Since they would soon be on the frontlines to serve those impacted by the pandemic, they would not be able to easily reconvene as health professionals for a future ceremony.

So we surveyed them and asked: providing we can offer you a safe and experiential ceremony, would you like us to move forward with the ceremonies?

150 students responded to the student survey and shared input that resulted in a hybrid commencement while complying with all state orders and CDC guidelines.

Our hybrid ― pre-recorded and live ― commencement included:

• Individually pre-recorded components such as speeches, the national anthem, oaths and military inductions.
• Student pictures, reading of graduate names and other graphic elements were pre-produced to ensure all graduates would be presented and to
pace the live components of the ceremony.
• Regalia was mailed so students could don their robes in their homes with family.
• During the pre-recorded live stream, many students celebrated live via Zoom which was seen via a split screen.
• A composite feed of Zoom and the pre-recorded ceremony were streamed through NEOMED’s Mediasite for anyone to watch.