Commencement will mean something very special for the Class of 2009 – in fact, they will be making modern history. They will be the first Saint Vincent graduates in nearly a century to receive their diplomas outdoors!

Chris Fiano, president of the Executive Board of the Student Government Association, after consulting with his fellow leaders and students, made the official recommendation to me in a meeting earlier this week and I am happy to report that I will announce our plans to go forward with an open air commencement at today’s meeting of the Board of Directors. Chris and I first discussed this possibility a few weeks ago, and now, with the addition of a new artificial turf field, we now have a reliable surface and can be confident that an outdoor commencement can work.

There are a number of good reasons to go outdoors. We will have the largest graduating class ever – over 300 students have applied for May commencement. The growth in the size of the graduating classes over the years has made the rationing of tickets necessary. That has never been popular with any of us. With an outdoor ceremony, there will be no limit on the number of guests a graduate can bring along.

Second, we have one of the loveliest campuses in America – so why not take advantage of that? Graduates will be looking at a stage that will have as a backdrop, instead of a black drape, our gorgeous Basilica and the new Fred Rogers Center. And of course, because we are nestled in the foothills of the Laurel Mountains, there will be much natural beauty to enjoy.

The month of May is filled with glory here as spring asserts itself and the cool air gives way to spectacular climate. We will be asking the Benedictine monks here to call in a chit with the Lord so that the weather cooperates. As with other colleges and universities that hold their commencement exercises outdoors, we will hold ours rain or shine. The artificial field ensures that we won’t have parents and grandparents and graduates walking in mud, nor chairs tipping over. The College will be prepared for rain and make sure we can help attendees cope with it if it comes.

In the event that the weather forecast on the morning of the event presents a danger (electrical storms or very high winds with torrential rains), then we will move the ceremony inside the Carey Center (we’ll be set up in both places).

That is why our graduating students need to apply for tickets – just in case Mother Nature is in a particularly foul mood that day. But a little rain before, during or after graduation ceremonies has not stopped colleges and universities like Carnegie Mellon or Harvard from being outdoors, and it won’t stop us, either.

So graduates – get ready to make modern history here at Saint Vincent! And start saying a few prayers that the weather cooperates so that we can all be outdoors – you’ll be able to throw your caps in the air as high as the sky!