Dear Geography Class of 2020:
It is hard to imagine how much your lives have changed over the past two and a half months. In late February, you were attending classes. You were likely counting down the days to Spring Break, when you could catch up on some sleep and maybe also some work. For those of you with family in China, you were no doubt already concerned about the novel coronavirus pandemic that would soon sweep through so many countries, including this one. And indeed, the week before your much-deserved break, we held our last in-person classes in the Department of Geography as New York State went into lockdown.
Over the course of the subsequent seven weeks of the semester, faculty, students and staff have all had to adjust to this strange new normal. Most of you will have become very familiar with various remote platforms and adapted to endless hours at the computer receiving instruction and working on assignments. We know that it has not been easy. Finishing a degree is always a challenge, but you should be incredibly proud of yourselves for completing your degree under these extraordinary circumstances.
We are disappointed that we cannot celebrate your achievements in person this year. Please accept our warmest wishes and heartiest congratulations on the completion of your degree. You have worked hard to earn it! We wish you all the best in the future. The world at the moment is full of uncertainty, novel challenges, and long-standing injustices. Whether you have become an expert in International Trade, Geographic Information Science, Earth Systems Science, or Urban and Regional Analysis, you have much to offer the world. We hope that the knowledge and training that you have acquired during your geography training will help you to understand and navigate the road ahead.
Finally, please stay in touch with the Department, Faculty and Staff. We very much appreciate hearing from our graduates, learning about your experiences and victories, and receiving updates on major life events.
Sincerely,
Dr. Chris Larsen, Department Chair
Dr. Jared Aldstadt, Director of Undergraduate Studies
Dr. Marion Werner, Director of Graduate Studies
Graduate
Friday, May 14
1:00 p.m.
Undergraduate
Sunday, May 16
Arts, Natural Sciences, Math and Interdisciplinary Programs: 9:30 a.m.
Humanities and Social Sciences: 3:00 p.m.
Post on social media using #UBclassof2021
Congratulations to the following students on their academic achievements!
Friday, May 15 1 p.m.
This virtual ceremony is for graduate students from all departments within the College of Arts and Sciences.
Saturday, May 16 3 p.m.
This virtual ceremony is for undergraduate students from all departments within the College of Arts and Sciences.