The University of Auckland has cancelled its upcoming graduation ceremonies in light of Auckland's shift to alert level 2, leaving around 5000 students without the opportunity to commemorate years of hard work with their loved ones.
In a statement on Wednesday, the university announced that graduation ceremonies scheduled for October 6, 7 and 8 had been "reluctantly" cancelled, impacting around 5000 students - the university's largest cohort ever.
"Under alert level 2, such large gatherings are not permitted, so we are reluctantly having to cancel those in-person graduation ceremonies," Vice Chancellor Dawn Freshwater said in the announcement.
"I understand how disappointing this will be for our graduating students and their whānau and friends. In addition, a great deal of work and complex planning has been done by our staff to prepare for these ceremonies."
The university is now looking at the possibility of holding 'virtual' ceremonies, Freshwater said, by utilising livestreaming technology.
"While it won't replace the excitement and energy of our usual graduations... [this] would allow our students to celebrate their achievement with family and friends."
It remains unclear whether postponing the ceremonies is a possibility, however Freshwater said an update will be provided when more information is available.
Yet the prospect of a virtual ceremony has delivered a crushing blow to expectant students, many of whom had been eagerly anticipating their graduation following the postponement of Semester One ceremonies.
Earlier this year, the university postponed its autumn graduations in May due to lockdown restrictions. In its announcement, the university said it would instead add more ceremonies to its spring graduations in October, and gave affected students two options: to graduate in absentia, or to defer their graduation to the now-cancelled October period.
One woman who contacted Newshub said her daughter - who had deferred her graduation to October due to the postponements - has been impacted by the cancellations. She said her daughter has endured "a considerable wait" to officially conclude her degree, and has once again been left disappointed.
"[This is] hugely disappointing for young people already facing a daunting future," the woman said.
One man, who wishes to remain anonymous, said his partner - who has recently completed her degree - is incredibly disappointed by the announcement.
He says a virtual ceremony will not encapsulate the excitement and significance of an in-person graduation.
"It's not as intimate and lacks the sentiment of a physical ceremony," he told Newshub. "Students don't get to walk across the stage and shake the Vice Chancellor's hand, they aren't capped. They don't get the photos at the venue, or get to wear the regalia.
"She has done years of study and will not get to walk across the stage, which is incredibly sad and disappointing."
He argues it's hypocritical that prospective graduates are expected to settle for a virtual ceremony, when their professors and university academics had the opportunity to commemorate their study with a physical celebration.
"It's not allowing the cohort the same privilege," he told Newshub. "It feels like they are denying them the significance of this moment.
"Each of those professors had their opportunity to be capped in person and should afford the same opportunity to their cohort."
The cancellations come at a "bizarre" time, the man says, particularly as Auckland may move to alert level 1 in the coming weeks.
"Our move to alert level 2 tonight, for a period of at least two weeks until Wednesday, October 7, has important implications for our plans for the remainder of Semester Two," Freshwater said in the statement.
On Monday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that Cabinet had agreed to shift the Super City to alert level 2 at 11:59pm on Wednesday, while the rest of New Zealand entered alert level 1 on Monday night.
Cabinet is set to review the country's current alert level settings on Monday, October 5, and any changes would come into effect on Wednesday, October 7.
Speaking in a Facebook Live on Monday night, Ardern acknowledged that if Auckland continues to see small numbers of cases crop up over the coming weeks, a move to level 1 would be imminent.
"Our expectation is if Auckland continues on in the way it is, that we should be able to move down alert levels in two weeks time," she said.
However, Freshwater did not indicate that a postponement of the ceremonies would be possible, despite the prospect of a transition to level 1 in two weeks' time.
The man Newshub spoke to said this was unfair, as the announcement has not offered students any alternatives.
"It seems pretty final. There's a total lack of accomodation to students," he said.
"Most students and families will surely be okay waiting another two weeks until we're in level 1. But for the university to cancel it with no indication of a postponed ceremony is, in my eyes, completely unacceptable."
He noted that while some may be happy to graduate via a virtual ceremony, the prospect of an imminent level 1 should allow affected students some options.
"This is their last chance to stand up in front of their family and celebrate years of hard work."
He struggles to understand why the ceremonies cannot be postponed a second time to new dates when Auckland is officially under level 1.
"They shouldn't force students into this virtual ceremony without offering the possibility of a physical graduation," he said.
"I ask the university to treat students with compassion and understand the importance of this moment of celebration. Graduation should be treated with respect and students deserve the same opportunity their professors had."
The University of Auckland has been contacted for comment.
