5.19.22: COVID-related Commencement Guidance

A message sent to members of the Lehigh community and Lehigh families.

Dear Members of the Lehigh Community and Lehigh Families,

As our graduating students, their families and the entire Lehigh community prepare for this year’s very special Commencement, we wanted to share guidance to help support a safe and healthy celebration.

For those traveling to the area, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reports COVID data on its website; as of this email, Northampton County is noted as an area of high community-level transmission.

We encourage everyone attending Commencement-related activities and events to take a rapid COVID test within 24 hours of attending, especially if you plan to attend any indoor events. You may not attend any Commencement events if you have tested positive within five days of the event (meaning you are required to isolate).

Even if you think you are experiencing allergies or a cold, if you have any COVID-like symptoms, please do not attend any events unless you have tested negative for COVID within 24 hours of the event you plan to attend.

If you tested positive for COVID between six and 10 days before an event, you must wear a mask per CDC guidelines. Event organizers may choose to require masks for all participants at specific indoor events. Anyone who would like to wear a mask at any time is encouraged to do so.

If there is severe weather and ceremonies are moved indoors at any point, the same guidance would apply.

Following these guidelines will hopefully help everyone stay healthy and allow the focus of Commencement activities to remain where it should— on celebrating this special moment and the success and great accomplishments of our graduating students.

Wishing our students and their families a safe and happy conclusion to the academic year. Congratulations to the Class of 2022!

-COVID Response Team