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

  • Preparing for the Next Era of Healthcare Education, Innovation

    Across the country, public universities and community colleges are accelerating investments in healthcare education facilities as part of a broader strategy to address workforce shortages, modernize outdated infrastructure, and expand clinical training capacity. These projects, which are often located at the center of campus health and science districts, are no longer limited to traditional classrooms.

  • Malibu High School Campus Completes $102M Phase 1 of Construction

    Malibu High School in Malibu, Calif., recently announced that it has completed phase 1 of construction for its new campus, a news release reports. The first phase consisted of developing and modernizing the site of a former elementary school into a new, 70,000-square-foot, two-story facility.

  • Recent University of Pennsylvania Projects Receive LEED Certifications

    The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Penn., recently announced that three of its recent construction projects have earned LEED certifications, according to university news. The Vagelos Laboratory for Energy Science and Technology (VLEST) received a LEED Platinum certification, Amy Gutmann Hall a LEED Gold, and the OTT Center for Track and Field a LEED silver.

  • University of Rhode Island, Gilbane Partner for Three New Residence Halls

    The University of Rhode Island in Kingston, R.I., recently announced a public-private partnership with construction development firm Gilbane, according to a news release. Gilbane will soon start construction on three new residence halls with a total of 1,100 beds: two with apartment-style suites in northwest campus, and a reconstruction of the Graduate Village Apartments for graduate students.

Digital Edition