Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

vFairs to Offer Virtual Graduation Ceremonies

  • By Matt Jones
  • 03/31/21

vFairs, a hybrid and virtual event platform, will be offering its services to public schools, colleges, and universities as the second graduation season of the COVID-19 pandemic draws closer. According to a press release, the platform provides “immersive, customizable virtual graduation ceremonies” that includes features like 3D modeling and a digital rendering of the campus of choice to make a remote ceremony feel as real as possible.

The service can create a custom, 3D model of a graduation space, be it a high-school auditorium, a college campus stadium—or even the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Virtual avatars of students wear caps and gowns. Schools can schedule speaking opportunities for graduation speakers like notable alumni or celebrities. It also includes multiple outlets for student participation and engagement like a virtual yearbook, trivial challenges, scavenger hunts, social walls, and chat rooms.

“In response to the ongoing pandemic, many schools are planning early virtual graduations this year,” said vFairs CEO Muhammad Younas. “Even though they can’t attend a physical ceremony, there’s no reason students should feel left out of their graduation. Our virtual environments are designed to make you feel as though you are actually there and leave a lasting impression on graduates and their families.”

Administrators can still control who attends the event. Access can be limited to registered students and their family and friends, and use of an email whitelist can help make sure only invited guests attend. Access to the ceremony can also be open and unrestricted, if desired.

A poll conducted in March 2020 by Educause Review found that almost half of all responding colleges and universities (49%) were planning to postpone their 2020 graduation ceremonies. Fourteen percent planned a virtual ceremony, and another 14% simply cancelled the affair.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Minnesota Middle School Finishes $23.5M Addition and Modernization

    Highland Park Middle School in St. Paul, Minn., recently announced the completion of a $23.5-million addition and remodel project, according to a news release. Saint Paul Public Schools partnered with ATS&R Planners, Architects & Engineers for its design and Kraus-Anderson for its construction.

  • Geometric abstract school illustration

    How Design Shapes Learning and Success

    Can the color of a wall, the curve of a chair, or the hum of fluorescent lights really affect how a student learns? More schools are beginning to think so.

  • University of Illinois Moves Forward with College Sports’ Largest Digital Scoreboard

    The University of Illinois in Champaign, Ill., recently announced a series of upgrades to Gies Memorial Stadium that will include the largest scoreboard in college sports, according to a news release.

  • Illinois State University Breaks Ground on College of Fine Arts Transformation

    Illinois State University in Normal, Ill., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts transformation project, according to university news. The series of new constructions and renovations will upgrade spaces in Centennial East, the Center for the Visual Arts, and the Center for the Performing Arts, as well as replace the existing Centennial West facility with a new Commons Building.