The University of Arizona will allow guests to attend graduation ceremonies planned for May, officials announced at a Tuesday press conference. The university had previously planned to close the events to students only.

“We are confident now with the stability of the metrics we have been using and our fact team and the public health advisory team that we can move forward this way," said former U.S. Surgeon General and the university’s reentry task force leader Dr. Richard Carmona.

The university will now allow students to bring up to four guests with them to one of the various smaller commencement ceremonies that will be held from May 11-18 at the Davis Sports Center or Arizona Stadium. 

“We’re excited and hopeful for this development in our plans, and I know that our students and their families are going to be incredibly, incredibly excited about this," said UA President Robert Robbins.

The ceremonies will also be live streamed if students and guests want to participate remotely.

Because the in-person ceremonies will take place in large, outdoor stadiums where people will be masked and socially distanced, the university has decided it won’t require COVID testing for guests, but will test its faculty, staff and students, Robbins said. Guests will be asked to complete a Wildcat WellCheck that assess their health.  

If public health conditions change, Carmona said the university reserves the right to revoke the guest policy or make the ceremonies completely virtual.