University of Alabama still plans to proceed with graduation

As of press time, the University of Alabama plans to hold its fall 2020 commencement in-person Dec. 12, with live video accompanying for those who can't or don't wish to attend.

Some public events in Tuscaloosa planned have been postponed or converted to video, due to rising COVID-19 numbers and the expected cold and wet weather. 

Among them were Theatre Tuscaloosa's commissioned comedy “Lights Out in Cootah County: A Country (COVID) Christmas Carol," which moved from Dec. 4 in Government Plaza to a video-only performance, and Tuscaloosa Children's Theatre's " 'Tis the Season: An Afternoon of Solos and Duets by Tuscaloosa Children's Theatre" planned for 2 p.m. Sunday, which is also moving to video-only presentation.

The Theatre Tuscaloosa performance was to have followed the Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse, 714 Greensboro Ave., which was held  at 6 p.m. Friday Dec. 4.

On Thursday, Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox on Thursday temporarily suspended operations at Holidays on the River, the ice-skating holiday event at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater, through at least Thursday, Dec. 10. Maddox cited rising COVID-19 cases among city staff.

UA will hold its commencement in a similar format to that instituted July 31-Aug. 1, for combined spring and summer graduations.

Four separate ceremonies will be held at Coleman Coliseum Dec. 12, with the College of Communications and Information Sciences, and College of Engineering graduates at 9 a.m.; Culverhouse College of Business and College of Education at noon; College of Human Environmental Sciences, Capstone College of Nursing and The School of Law at 3 p.m.; and College of Arts and Sciences, College of Community Health Sciences, and School of Social Work at 6.

All graduating students must arrive at the adjacent Crisp Indoor Practice Facility at least 90 minutes prior to their group's start.

All those attending will be required to wear facial coverings. Each graduating student can invite up to four guests, who will be escorted to assigned seating.

At about 20 to 25 minutes before start time, the distanced candidate processional will begin. Guests should find their seats at this time, and remain seated throughout the ceremony. Each section will last about two hours, depending on numbers of students.

Candidates will climb stairs on the right of the stage, descend on the left, then return to their seats and remain seated until ceremony's end. Each section will end with a formal recessional led by those on the platform, followed by faculty, and ending with the graduates.

All ceremonies will be shown on live video at www.ua.edu. Participation is not required for graduation. Sanitizing stations can be found throughout the coliseum, and the arena will be cleaned between ceremonies.

For more, including information on regalia, see www.commencement.ua.edu/fall-2020/