Freshman Republican State Rep. Carter Nordman introduced a bill today that requires Iowa’s regent universities to hold in-person commencement ceremonies for their 2021 graduates.
Nortman, a college student himself, noted the hard work and sacrifices made by students.
“Students across Iowa have worked hard and have made sacrifice during this pandemic,” he said. “Commencement ceremonies are an honor you get to partake in only once in your life. A PowerPoint presentation, in my opinion, does not do that honor justice.”
With three months left before graduation, Nordman said hospitalization rates are declining and vaccinations are being distributed.
“It is premature for universities to announce virtual commencements that are held in the month of May,” he said. “Throughout the pandemic, we have learned how to be adaptive and mitigate this virus. If we can host basketball games and have fans at football games, there is no reason logical and safe in-person ceremonies can’t be coordinated.”
