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

  • Upcoming University of Alabama Performing Arts Center Hits Construction Milestone

    The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala., recently celebrated the topping out of its new Smith Family Center for Performing Arts, according to a news release. The university is partnering with HPM for program and project management on the facility, which broke ground in 2023 and is scheduled for completion in November 2026.

  • textured paper collage shows a school building on fire as a fire truck sprays water into the flames

    Why a Fire Loss Is More than Flames

    We've all seen what fire damage can do to a property, but the types of damage building owners often encounter after a fire loss can exceed expectations. Having full awareness of the different forms of damage properties can sustain helps owners respond faster, reduce continued damage, and get back on the road to recovery in short order.

  • restroom sinks

    CSU Dominguez Hills Standardizes Plumbing to Improve Restroom Maintenance and Efficiency

    At California State University, Dominguez Hills, facilities leaders have taken steps to standardize restroom fixtures as part of a broader effort to improve maintenance efficiency and control long-term costs.

  • Los Angeles City College Breaks Ground on New Administration, Workforce Building

    Los Angeles City College (LACC) in Los Angeles, Calif., recently broke ground on a new $72-million administrative facility, according to a news release. The Cesar Chavez Administration and Workforce Building will stand four stories, cover 67,230 square feet, and play home to a wide variety of the school’s educational and administrative services.

Digital Edition