This year’s Arapahoe Community College (ACC) graduates will celebrate in a unique graduation ceremony. Unlike the 2020 virtual commencement or the traditional ceremony held at the University of Denver, 2021 graduates and guests will experience an intimate ceremony on ACC’s Littleton campus.  

Commencement will be held in the Summit Room on Friday, May 14 from 2:30-6:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 15 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  

In an interview via Zoom, Student Affairs Operations Coordinator Tanya Brown explained that students will schedule a 15-minute time slot to move through a set of stations, ending in the Summit Room, which will serve as the graduation stage. Graduates will proceed through the stations in groups of nine. Friends and family will accompany their graduate into the room, hear their name called and watch as they receive their diploma cover and take a photo with Dr. Diana Doyle, the college president. The entire event will be socially distanced, and masks will be worn.  

Brown says the commencement planning committee’s vision of the ceremony began by discovering what factors were a priority to graduates.  

“We surveyed students a couple of months ago, asking what was important to them about commencement,” Brown says. “Overwhelmingly, they said they wanted something in person, so we started to work on a new kind of commencement.”  

Brown says the committee worked to balance the two priorities of creating a safe and meaningful ceremony. Although it will not be traditional, the committee designed a plan to include unique experiences graduates do not normally share with family and friends.  

“[Traditionally], families and guests are in the arena seats, whereas here they will be in the room with their graduate.” Brown explains. “We will have stations for students to take pictures with classmates, if they are walking at the same time, and with guests and family, which generally only happens beforehand.” 

Graduating commercial photography major Kevin Cady said in an interview via Zoom he isn’t surprised at the effort the college is making to create a personalized, meaningful commencement ceremony because he has had similar experiences throughout his three years at the college.  

“I love ACC,” Cady says. “The teachers have been really attentive and given personalized teaching. They really do prepare you for real world situations.” 

Graduating students can use this link to schedule a commencement time. If unable to access myACC, Navigate, or participate in Commencement, graduates can complete the Commencement Assistance form. Ceremony details will be posted on ACC’s Graduation Commencement page and will be emailed as they are updated and finalized.