This is Finals Week at Chadron State College, although some finals have already been held.
The Fall Semester officially ends on Wednesday with the new 3-week Winter Semester starting next Monday.
Chadron State was initially scheduled to hold Winter Commencement ceremonies on December 18, but those plans were scuttled last month as COVID-19 cases ramped up and the school will now hold a virtual ceremony starting that day at 2:00 PM.
COVID-19 is hitting South Dakota even harder, but that didn’t stop Black Hills State University in Spearfish from holding in-person graduation ceremonies on Saturday.
The school hosted three ceremonies at three different times for three different academic programs with some 180 students taking part. The largest ceremony involved 72 graduates.
BHSU Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Priscilla Romkema says students, faculty, and staff all deserve praise for pulling off the tripleheader graduation – calling it a continuation of the “collaborative linking of arms” taking place all semester.
Romkema also credits a campus mask mandate with playing a vital role in keeping academic continuity. Gov Kristi Noem continues to strongly oppose any statewide mask mandate.