Commencement at Albright College

Each ceremony will follow state and federal guidelines for gatherings. All students, guests and staff are required to wear face masks (CDC Guidance for Wearing Masks) and maintain physical distancing from others (CDC Social Distancing Guidelines) to minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19.Santander Arena and Albright College staff will be on site to answer questions and provide guidance; please follow their instructions about health and safety protocols. All guests who will be attending a commencement ceremony are expected to take health and safety precautions when traveling and during commencement weekend.

In addition, please do not attend an in-person ceremony if within the last 14 days you think you have been exposed, are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, are awaiting test results or, if in the past 10 days, you have tested positive for COVID-19.

To offer the opportunity for an in-person ceremony, while best protecting our entire community (including graduates), and meeting state guidelines, we can confirm the following:

• The ceremony will be held on Sunday, May 30, 2021.
• We will hold TWO ceremonies on that day at the Santander Arena, 700 Penn Street, Reading, PA 19602.
• The first ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. for all graduates receiving a bachelor of arts (BA) degree.
• The second ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. for all graduates receiving a bachelor of science (BS), a master of arts (MA) or master of science (MS) degree—ALL SPS graduates are receiving a BS and will be a part of the 3 p.m. ceremony.

We cannot answer all questions at this time; however, given what we know now:

• Two ceremonies allow Albright to hold in-person commencement while meeting current state occupancy requirements.
• In order to meet occupancy requirements at the Santander Arena, we cannot hold the ceremonies by Class of 2020 and Class of 2021.  We MUST divide the graduates for each ceremony by BA and BS in order to meet the maximum number of seats on the floor at the Arena.
• At this moment in time, we are offering TWO TICKETS for family and guests to watch the ceremony in person.  (This may change as state restrictions change.)
• Both ceremonies will be available via live-stream at http://www.albright.edu/commencement.
• There will be no Baccalaureate ceremony this year.
• Hooding will not be a part of the Commencement ceremony.
• The President will hand each graduate his or her diploma and “bump elbows” rather than shaking hands.
• Social distancing and proper mask wearing will be mandatory during the entire event.

Attire

Commencement is a formal event. Dark slacks and dark shoes are recommended as the most appropriate with the academic costume for men. Women should wear dark shoes.

Flowers and decorative jewelry should not be attached to the academic gown. Please wear the cap properly, with the tassel on the right side of the cap until your degree has been conferred during Commencement.

Approved Academic Cords, Stoles, Pins at Commencement Ceremonies

Stoles and cords

Only stoles representing Jacob Albright Scholars are approved for Commencement ceremonies.

Cords are meant to signify college engagement. Therefore, only cords representing organizations that are approved by Albright’s Student Government Association are allowed. Cords for non-SGA approved organizations are prohibited.

No exceptions will be made to these rules, unless approved by the Provost in writing.

Arrival – Morning Ceremony

8:30 a.m. — Graduates report, with cap, gown and hood. Please enter the Santander Arena at the Press Entrance on Penn Street, where you will be checked in and guided where to line up.

Arrival – Afternoon Ceremony

1:30 p.m. — Graduates report, with cap, gown and hood. Please enter the Santander Arena at the Press Entrance on Penn Street, where you will be checked in and guided where to line up.

Processional

The Marshals will direct the formation of the line for the processional. The order of march will be faculty, administrators, trustees, and platform party, who will form a double line through which the graduates will pass in alphabetical order.

It is essential that you keep your place in line and remain in the order in which you are listed and announced to the President. This order is most important because your names will be called in alphabetical order when you are presented to Dr. Fetrow for your diploma.

9:45 a.m. Morning Ceremony Processional begins — Follow the directions of marshals. Remain standing for the “National Anthem” and “Invocation.” Men remove their caps for the National Anthem, invocation prayer, benediction and Alma Mater.

2:45 p.m. Afternoon Ceremony Processional begins — Follow the directions of marshals. Remain standing for the “National Anthem” and “Invocation.” Men remove their caps for the National Anthem, invocation prayer, benediction and Alma Mater.

Conferring Degrees, Presentation of Diplomas

Graduates rise as complete rows at signal from one of the faculty marshals.

As soon as President Fetrow has conferred your degree upon you as a group, all will be seated. Each row in your group will rise and proceed in alphabetical order to the right side of the platform (as you face it). Keep at least six feet behind the person in front of you.

When you reach the platform, pause for a moment while your name is being announced to the audience. You will then proceed to the President. The President will then give you your diploma, and you will “bump elbows” with Dr. Fetrow.

You will then continue across the platform and return to your seat following the Marshals’ directions. You may be seated immediately.

Once all degrees have been conferred, instructions will be delivered by the class officers to switch the tassel on the cap to the LEFT.

The Recessional

Follow the instructions of the Marshals for the recessional.

Graduates and families are asked to meet outside of Santander Arena after each ceremony.

We expect that each ceremony will last approximately two hours.

Chef Alan’s American Bistro
6th & Penn Avenues
West Reading, PA  19610
(610) 375-4012

Christine’s Creekside Inn
1250 Green Hills Road (Rt. 568)
Birdsboro, PA  19508
(610) 582-8150

Dans at Green Hills
2444 Morgantown Road
Reading, PA  19607
(610) 777-9611

Gettin Crabby at the Crab Barn
2613 Hampden Boulevard
Reading, PA  19604
(610) 921-1650

GNA Ristorante Pizzeria
421 Penn Avenue
West Reading, PA  19611
(610) 376-1155

The Hitching Post Restaurant & Bar
2747 Bernville Road
Leesport, PA  19533
(484) 671-2347

Klinger’s at the Airport
2385 Bernville Road
Reading, PA  19605
(610) 898-8490

Lang Vietnamese Restaurant
22 N 6th St
Reading, PA 19601
(610) 372-6407

Laxmi’s Indian Grille
1806 State Hill Rd
Wyomissing, PA 19610
(484) 926-2626

Long Horn Steakhouse
1085 Woodland Road
Reading, PA  19610
(610) 375-2580

Mimmo’s Restaurant & Pizzeria
290 Morgantown Road
Reading, PA  19611
(610) 373-2800

Nino’s Pizza & Italian Restaurant
515 Richmond Street
Reading, PA  19605
(610) 921-5923

Olive Garden Italian Restaurant
1700 Crossing Drive
Wyomissing, PA  19610
(610) 373-1311

Outback Steakhouse
1101 Woodland Rd
Wyomissing, PA 19610
(610) 376-9910

The Pike Cafe
930 Pike Street
Reading, PA  19604
(610) 373-6616

Red Lobster Restaurants
945 Woodland Road
Wyomissing, PA  19610
(610) 376-2905

Ruby Tuesday
1665 State Hill Road
Wyomissing, PA  19610
(610) 373-6900

Salute Ristorante Italiano
4718 Penn Ave
Sinking Spring, PA 19608
(484) 577-4833

Saucony Creek & Franklin Station Brewpub
690 Franklin Street
Reading, PA 19602
(484) 755-5680

Stokesay Castle
141 Stokesay Castle Lane
Reading, PA  19606
(610) 375-6100

Stopper’s Steak and Seafood
6421 Perkiomen Avenue
Birdsboro, PA  19508
(610) 582-8911

Tlacuani Mexican Restaurant Bar & Grill
5005 Kutztown Road
Temple, PA  19560
(610) 921-3037

West Reading Tavern
606 Penn Ave
West Reading, PA 19611
(610) 376-9232

Order your cap, gown, hood, and tassel here and have it shipped to your home or shipped to the bookstore to be picked up the week of finals.

If you have any questions, please contact the Albright College bookstore at sm473@bncollege.com.

Important Dates:

• April 22, 2021: Deadline for online ordering with free shipping to the bookstore

• May 7, 2021: Deadline for online ordering with the ship to home option (fee applicable)

https://albright.shopoakhalli.com/purchasewizard/Welcome

An Albright College emerita board member and an engaging speaker, Dorothy Watson Tatem, D. Min., ACC will bring a word of healing and inspiration to our commencement after a long pandemic year filled with social and civic turmoil.

A senior associate at minority, woman-owned, Next Step Associates (NSA), Tatem trains in time management and business writing and is an editor and a certified coach to public, private-sector and government leaders and individuals. Her “NSA Destinations” blog appears weekly on Facebook.

In January 2013, Tatem retired as the district superintendent of the East District of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church. In this position, she reported directly to the Bishop and had oversight of 73 churches located in Philadelphia, and Bucks and Montgomery counties. Previously, she served as director of the Office of Urban and Global Ministries, for which she assisted churches in partnering with, and being aware of, assets in the urban community. In partnership with the Public Library of Philadelphia, she established a grant writing and research library. Tatem first joined the conference staff as director of the Office of Resourcing which assisted churches in transitions, strategic planning, partnering in ministry with the community, and conflict management.

She also served as the senior pastor of Camphor Memorial United Methodist Church in Philadelphia, which experienced significant new membership growth during her tenure. As lead pastor, she helped the congregation to revive a defunct community development corporation and acquire 501c3 status. Serving as the president of the corporation, Tatem led it to acquire an abandoned school building that was adjacent to the church. Previously a site for prostitution and drugs, the building was renovated into a senior citizens’ residence and medical support services facility — a $4.5 million project in collaboration with city, state and federal officials.

While Tatem was pastor of the St. Matthew United Methodist Church in Trevose, Pa., the congregation acquired two lots adjacent to the church for future expansion. Membership increased significantly, leading to a standing jest that the church could be cited for being overcrowded.

After receiving her bachelor’s degree from Temple University, Tatem earned a Master of Education degree from Beaver College (now Arcadia University), a Master of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary. As a member of Albright College’s Board of Trustees from 1998-2008, Tatem volunteered as a mentor to African-American students, and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree in 2003.