The University of Michigan will honor its spring Class of 2020 with a day of online activities, videos and special interactive features May 2, after the university’s traditional commencement celebrations were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Spring Celebration 2020 website, commencement.umich.edu, will serve as a central location for activities, links to various other campus celebrations, and a few surprises.

The university’s social media channels on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram also will provide a wide variety of content throughout the day.

“Commencement is a very special time for all of us at U-M,” President Mark Schlissel said in an email to students earlier this month. “We all recognize how great an accomplishment this is and share the goal of making a commencement ceremony as meaningful as possible when we are able.”

The university is working with members of the Ann Arbor campus’ Class of 2020 to find a future date for an official, in-person ceremony. Suggestions can be emailed to [email protected].

The May 2 celebration, while not an “online commencement ceremony,” is designed to be a day full of interactive opportunities for graduates, their families and the university community to enjoy on their own schedule.

 Some activities already are being promoted on the commencement website:

• Students and families are asked to share favorite photos, videos and stories that reflect their most memorable moments as a Wolverine.
• The community is asked to prepare for a Virtual Maize Out on May 2, when everyone is encouraged to post a photo of themselves in maize and blue with the #MGoGrad hashtag.

The day will kick off with an 8 a.m. email to graduates from the president, congratulating them and encouraging them to join the online celebration. The message also is expected to include a video featuring Schlissel and other university leaders.

Among the activities planned throughout the day are:

• A video message from former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, who had been scheduled to deliver the commencement address before the ceremony at Michigan Stadium was canceled.
• President Mark Schlissel will share his remarks via his @DrMarkSchlissel account on Twitter.
• A “Graduation from Where You Are” photo album will feature images collected from the Class of 2020 on U-M’s main Facebook page, and will be included among a variety of available interactive frames, filters, and stickers at socialmedia.umich.edu.
• Videos that include interviews with student emcees, congratulations from alumni, a highlight reel of U-M photos from the last four years, and a look at what it means to be a Victor through students’ point of view.
• A video of the Michigan Marching Band performing “The Victors” using Zoom technology.
• Links to graduation celebrations planned by schools, colleges and units, some of which will take place on days other than May 2. Also planned are links to various specialty graduation celebrations planned by campus groups.
• Information about earlier celebrations at UM-Flint and UM-Dearborn.