A Message From the University Chancellor
The custom of graduating students coming together in a ceremony dates back to the twelfth century. The world certainly looks much different today than it did back then, or even just a few years ago, yet many of the rituals and celebrations of commencement have endured. Every year, the faculty, staff and administration at Johnson & Wales University look forward to our spring tradition of recognizing our students’ successful completion of their college degrees.
This year, once again, we are inspired to present commencement in new ways to pay tribute to this important milestone in our students’ educational journey. The responses to a survey sent to graduating students and the varying conditions and pandemic restrictions in each of our host states have helped inform our commencement plans. You will soon hear from your campus president about how commencement will be celebrated at your campus for our Class of 2021, as well as the Class of 2020 that also had their commencement activities disrupted last year due to COVID-19.
Years from now, when we look back at 2020 and 2021, I hope we will remember how well we responded to the many tests that came our way. We learned to be nimble and the importance of putting community first, abiding by the health protocols recommended to keep each other safe and healthy. As we close a chapter in the university’s history, we will be forever grateful to all of the North Miami and Denver students, faculty, staff and alumni who will be Wildcats for life.
We are and always will be one university. In just a matter of weeks, we will come together in different forms and formats to honor the graduating classes of 2020 and 2021. I am so incredibly proud of our students, faculty and staff who have risen to every challenge put before them so we can once again be united in the tradition of commencement.
Forever JWU.
“Years from now, when we look back at 2020 and 2021, I hope we will remember how well we responded to the many tests that came our way.”CHANCELLOR MIM RUNEY, LP.D.