EMU Today

YPSILANTI -- Eastern Michigan University has developed a digital media experience to celebrate its more than 2,400 students who are graduating this spring. The original Commencement date of Saturday, April 25, 2020 was postponed due to public health directives related to the COVID-19 crisis. Eastern Michigan University will host a traditional in-person ceremony for the current graduating students that will take place at a later date to be determined.

The virtual experience is designed to create a memorable celebration for the graduating class while also providing an opportunity for faculty, staff, alumni, and fellow students to offer their congratulations. The platform, hosted by Full Measure Education, will include celebratory content, including a video from the EMU community and social media filters that will allow graduates to virtually wear a graduation cap. Full Measure Education collaborates with university partners to provide powerful moments of mobile engagement using engaging, interactive content. 

“Nothing can replace the excitement and experience of walking across the Commencement stage at the Convocation Center to receive your diploma,” said Eastern Michigan University President James Smith. “We are sorry to have postponed this year’s celebration in light of the health crisis and public health directives, but promise to give our graduates an opportunity for a real graduation experience this fall or winter, once it is safe to do so. In the meantime, we have a creative celebration planned that utilizes digital and social platforms our students know well. We will create a memorable, and shareable, experience for our graduates.”

Under the plan, graduating seniors will receive emails and text messages inviting them to participate in our virtual/online graduation celebration. Elements of the virtual experience include:

• Video message from the President James Smith and congratulations from the entire Eastern Michigan University community
• Message from Student Body Vice President and graduating senior Hajer Abuzir;
• Social media engagement (the fun part!) -- specially-designed EMU graduation filters will be available on Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat to allow students to share their pictures in their (virtual) graduation cap; and,
• Unique hashtag, #TRUEMU2020, for students to share along with use of the University’s #TRUEMU hashtag, with images to be cataloged in an online yearbook.

The social media filters offer an augmented reality experience, allowing the students to engage with their images. The filters will include:

• Graduation cap with tassel (when the user smiles, the tassel will move to the other side of the cap);
• Confetti and balloons that will activate when the student smiles;
• Pomp and Circumstance; and,
• Color of cap can be customized based on whether a graduate student (black) or undergraduate student (green).

President Smith again noted that this effort is not designed to replace a formal commencement ceremony, which will still take place at a later date. “This will be fun and memorable experience for our graduates, and I look forward to seeing the many wonderful posts. Our new graduates have earned this experience – it will give them something special to remember and share in their futures.”

The University’s Multicultural Graduation Ceremony also will be held at a later date. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Multicultural Graduation Celebration (MGC) will not be held this Friday, April 24, 2020. However, the Center of Race & Ethnicity (CORE) still plans to acknowledge graduates and their hard work. CORE is creating a video to highlight their achievements and future plans. This video is scheduled to release next Thursday, April 30. 

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves nearly 18,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and, its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website.