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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:11.55pt"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Dear UCR Community,</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:11.55pt"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">A month ago, I endorsed the Commencement Task Force recommendations of a stage-walk for the graduating classes of 2021 and 2020, consistent with
public health guidance. As you know, California’s in-person gathering restrictions are evolving to reflect changes in infection, vaccination, and testing data, although notable constraints are still in place for Riverside County.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:11.55pt"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Recently, ASUCR leadership asked that we reconsider allowing limited guests to join graduates in the special moment of walking across the stage
while their name is read. I want to reiterate that the safety and health of our community is my highest priority while acknowledging the profound sacrifices our students have made over the past 14 months, completing degree requirements under daunting circumstances.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:11.55pt"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Based on advice and counsel from Commencement Task Force co-chairs, Vice Chancellor Brian Haynes and Dean Kathryn Uhrich, and with considerable
planning support from the Event Management & Protocol team, I am pleased to announce that I am granting an exception to our current campus policy prohibiting visitors to allow each student to bring<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u>no more than
two guests</u><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>with them into the venue. Once inside, students will remain at all times with their guests, who will cross the stage with them and join for a professional photograph. These activities will still be
livestreamed for family and friends to watch online.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:11.55pt"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">As previously described, participants will line up with households socially distanced and all individuals wearing face coverings, as required
by campus and public health guidelines. The same coronavirus safety protocols will be in place: participants must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination at check-in, with a completed COVID Vaccination Record Card issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC).<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u>Unvaccinated individuals</u> must arrive with a negative result from a SARS CoV-2 PCR test, performed no more than 48 hours prior to arriving on campus.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:11.55pt"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Consistent with California Department of Public Health guidance anyone who tests positive, is feeling ill, has symptoms of COVID-19, or has potentially
been exposed to someone with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, may not attend the graduation event and should follow public health recommendations. Also, any student or guest traveling or visiting from outside California and who is not vaccinated should self-quarantine
per public health guidelines.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:11.55pt"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">The formal ceremony will remain as a virtual event, with remarks and greetings by university, Academic Senate, alumni, and student leadership
delivered as a prerecorded program of approximately 30 minutes and released at the beginning of commencement weekend. Students and their families may watch this at a convenient time and enjoy a tassel-turning or hooding moment with their loved ones at home.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:11.55pt"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">We continue to monitor infection data and will strictly adhere to all public health guidance to make necessary adjustments if circumstances change.
For ongoing updates and more information, please visit<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="color:#4472C4"><a href="https://commencement.ucr.edu/"><span style="color:#4472C4">commencement.ucr.edu</span></a></span>. I’m grateful to co-chairs
Vice Chancellor Brian Haynes and Dean Kathryn Uhrich, who continue to provide exceptional leadership during this uncertain time.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Sincerely,</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><img border="0" width="59" height="59" style="width:.6111in;height:.6111in" id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D74320.3ECA78B0"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Kim A. Wilcox,
<br>
Chancellor <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img border="0" width="146" height="44" style="width:1.5208in;height:.4583in" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image002.png@01D74320.3ECA78B0"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:11.55pt"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:11.55pt"><u><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Vaccine Information</span></u><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:11.55pt"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Vaccination appointments are accessible at<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="color:#1F497D"><a href="https://www.rivcoph.org/COVID-19-Vaccine"><span style="color:#0563C1">https://www.rivcoph.org/COVID-19-Vaccine</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span>or<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://myturn.ca.gov/"><span style="color:#0563C1">https://myturn.ca.gov/</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>for
those outside Riverside County.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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