Boston University Hosts Belated Commencement Ceremony For Class Of 2020

BOSTON (CBS/AP) — More than a year after they graduated, hundreds of Boston University alumni returned to campus on Sunday for a belated commencement ceremony.

The university hosted an outdoor graduation event for the Class of 2020, which never had an in-person commencement because of the pandemic. Nearly 2,000 graduates returned for the ceremony at Nickerson Field, school officials said.

It makes good on the university's promise that the May 2020 event had been postponed but not canceled because of COVID-19. Now, 17 months later, it happened.

The university said it enforced public health measures including mandatory mask-wearing indoors. The school requires COVID-19 vaccination for all students and staff and said it was "strongly encouraged" for visitors.

A commencement speech was given by Victor J. Dzua, president of the National Academy of Medicine.

The ceremony was one of several events planned as part of the university's alumni weekend. Anyone who earned a degree from September 2019 through September 2020 was eligible to register for the belated commencement.

The Class of 2021 had its own in-person commencement this year, although it was scaled back to meet city and state gathering limits.

(© Copyright 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)