After discussion on social media about the amount of two graduation tickets per student, Nicholls State University recently made adjustments to the spring 2021 commencement so that students will now get four tickets. 

An email went out to current graduate candidates on April 6 stating that graduation will be held on May 15 and May 16 in Guidry Stadium instead of Stopher Gym. 

The email also stated that instead of only receiving two tickets, every student will now get four due to the change in location. 

“We understand that there has been a little bit of backlash on social media about the fact that students will only be allowed two guests per person […] so we are coming up with the alternatives to give them an option,” Director of Communications Jerad David said.  

Before making the final decision, the alternative was for graduates to fill out a survey. The survey was sent out on April 2. The decision to switch venues was made because more students wanted more tickets. 

The reason why the initial decision was to host the ceremonies in Stopher Gym and give each student two tickets was because of COVID-19 and social distancing guidelines. However, moving it to Guidry Stadium, allows for more people to attend the ceremony and stick to those guidelines. 

“Director of Safety and Environmental Health, Mr. Brian Clausen has gone in and they have physically measured the six-foot radius that people can sit in the stadium, and so that’s how they came up with the that 3,000 to 3,500 hundred number, so that’s why students will be able to get four tickets,” David said. 

May 15 will be for College of Education and Behavioral Science, College of Nursing and College of Sciences and Technology. May 16 will be for Chef John Folse Culinary Institute, College of Business Administration and the College of Liberal Arts.

The May 15 ceremony, it will start at 7:30 p.m. and the May 16 ceremony will begin at 8 a.m. An email stating the guidelines will be announced later this week.