In a normal year, Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s traditional Oath Ceremony would follow the Purdue University commencement exercises in the Elliott Hall of Music, yet this year’s far-from-normal events induced by the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a heroic effort to develop alternate plans. Purdue University converted its beloved traditional commencement ceremony into an on-demand virtual presentation, complete with all of the sights and sounds of the customary pomp and circumstance. Utilizing technology and ingenuity, the virtual commencement exercises honored the nearly 7,500 Boilermakers graduating this month, including DVM and Veterinary Nursing graduates.
The University sent each degree candidate a Purdue-branded commencement box that included a diploma cover, commencement program, cord and/or medallion (if applicable), as well as other memorabilia. The on-demand commencement ceremony can be accessed via a webpage portal at www.purdue.university/may2020, which houses specific online streaming details for each of the six divisions, including Division III, which features the College of Veterinary Medicine and the reading of the names of all of the DVM and Veterinary Nursing graduates. The recognition of DVM graduates begins 22:30 into the program. Veterinary Nursing graduates are announced 57:40 into the program. The Purdue University commencement website also features congratulatory messages from each of the college deans, including Dean Willie Reed.