Commencement COVID-19 Required Testing for Graduates
Congratulations on the upcoming completion of your degree! The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is excited to provide graduates with an in-person ceremony this year.
Commencement organizers are partnering with the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department in order to enhance the health and safety of all those participating in our in-person commencement ceremonies May 7 and 8.
All graduates are required to receive a negative COVID-19 test result in the 1-3 days prior to their graduation ceremony. Vaccination status is not a factor, all participating graduates must be tested. Face coverings and social distancing is also required by all those in attendance, including graduates and their guests.
Please see below the necessary steps you must take in order to participate in the upcoming in-person commencement ceremonies:
If you are graduating on Friday, May 7 (College of Law and Graduate College), you should:
Schedule your free, saliva-based COVID-19 testing at UNL on either Tuesday, May 4 or Wednesday, May 5 to ensure you receive your results prior to Friday’s ceremony. Vaccination status is not a factor, all participating graduates must be tested. Tests can be scheduled up to 7-days prior to desired testing date through the Safer Community App or the online COVID-19 Testing Portal.
You will receive your test results by the end of the day that follows the day of your test. A negative test is required to participate in the commencement ceremony. If you have a negative test, your Safer Community App will show building access granted or you will be able to generate a building access pass in the Testing Portal if you don’t use the app. Your Safer Community App building access status card or Testing Portal access pass is required to gain entry to Pinnacle Bank Arena, be sure to bring it on your phone or print your pass. If you test positive for COVID-19 during this required testing, you will not be allowed to participate in the ceremony and you will need to contact Commencement@unl.edu for next steps.
If you are traveling to Lincoln, you will need to either be tested on campus using the saliva-based COVID-19 testing sites or provide a negative PCR COVID-19 test from elsewhere that was taken no earlier than Sunday, May 2, 2021. Documentation of your negative test result will need to be submitted through the Graduation COVID-19 Testing Portal for approval. You must submit this no later than 48-hours prior to your ceremony start time. The COVID-19 Testing Team will follow up with you directly via email to confirm your submission status.
If you have a current medical exemption from the UNL Testing Program, it will be honored for graduation, and your Safer Community App will show building access granted or you will be able to generate a building access pass in the Testing Portal. If you do not have a current medical exemption you can submit an exemption request through the Graduation COVID-19 Testing Portal. To qualify for an exemption from graduation testing protocols, you must provide documentation of a positive COVID-19 test in the prior 90 days AND/OR have a medical reason why you cannot participate in saliva-based COVID-19 testing. The exemption request must be submitted no later than Monday, May 3, 2021, however, you are strongly encouraged to submit as soon as possible to allow time for any questions from the COVID-19 Testing Team. The COVID-19 Testing Team will follow up with you directly via email on your exemption status.
If you are graduating on Saturday, May 8 (Undergraduate Ceremonies), you need to:
Schedule your free, saliva-based COVID-19 testing at UNL on either Wednesday, May 5 or Thursday, May 6 to ensure you receive your results prior to your Saturday ceremony. Vaccination status is not a factor, all participating graduates must be tested. Tests can be scheduled up to 7-days prior to desired testing date through the Safer Community App or the online COVID-19 Testing Portal.
You will receive your test results by the end of the day that follows the day of your test. A negative test is required to participate in the commencement ceremony. If you have a negative test, your Safer Community App will show building access granted or you will be able to generate a building access pass in the Testing Portal if you don’t use the app. Your Safer Community App building access status card or Testing Portal access pass is required to gain entry to Hawks Championship Center (just north of Memorial Stadium) for check-in and Memorial Stadium for the ceremony. Be sure to bring it on your phone or print your pass. If you test positive for COVID-19 during this required testing, you will not be allowed to participate in the ceremony and you will need to contact Commencement@unl.edu for next steps.
If you are traveling to Lincoln, you will need to either be tested on campus using the saliva-based COVID-19 testing sites or provide a negative PCR COVID-19 test from elsewhere that was taken no earlier than Sunday, May 2, 2021. Documentation of your negative test result will need to be submitted through the Graduation COVID-19 Testing Portal for approval. You must submit this no later than 48-hours prior to your ceremony start time. The COVID-19 Testing Team will follow up with you directly via email to confirm your submission status.
If you have a current medical exemption from the UNL Testing Program, it will be honored for graduation, and your Safer Community App will show building access granted or you will be able to generate a building access pass in the Testing Portal. If you do not have a current medical exemption you can submit an exemption request through the Graduation COVID-19 Testing Portal. To qualify for an exemption from graduation testing protocols, you must provide documentation of a positive COVID-19 test in the prior 90 days AND/OR have a medical reason why you cannot participate in saliva-based COVID-19 testing. The exemption request must be submitted no later than Monday, May 3, 2021, however, you are strongly encouraged to submit as soon as possible to allow time for any questions from the COVID-19 Testing Team. The COVID-19 Testing Team will follow up with you directly via email on your exemption status.
Questions regarding testing can be sent to the COVID-19 Testing Team at covid19@unl.edu.
For more information regarding your specific commencement ceremony, including arrival times, ticketing, parking, clear bag policy etc. visit commencement.unl.edu.
Go Big Grad!
The UNL COVID-19 Testing Team
More details at: https://commencement.unl.edu/required-covid-19-testing-graduates