Following last year, entrance and graduation ceremonies were conducted as an alternative program this year. The entrance ceremony entailed a variety of welcoming events within the campus, and the graduation ceremony was conducted in a non-face-to-face format. This was in keeping with the government’s quarantine-related guidelines.

The online graduation ceremony was held at 11 a.m. on February 22. This year’s graduates are the first generation directly affected by COVID-19, and they endured a lot of difficulties. Graduate A said that the library’s schedule continuously changed. Therefore, it was difficult to stably prepare for a job. She said the dramatic difference in how the school functioned last year and the graduation ceremony made her feel sorry for the schoolmates. Despite this, the event was quite intense. Events that could make the most out of online services were planned. For example, congratulatory messages from students were selected through a contest. The graduates also went through the same process, and they recorded their celebrations on video. The graduation ceremony is available on YouTube.

The replacement programs for the entrance ceremony were held from March 2 to 19. On March 2, the online entrance ceremony was held. Although the face-to-face entrance ceremony was canceled, the school posted a large banner with welcome greetings from students. Its size would grow further as colleges participate. There was also an on-campus photo zone in front of the Jeonnong Hall. Additionally, students held various online events to welcome freshmen. The Student Council conducted a small scale school field trip program for new students who were curious about what the campus looks like. This received positive reviews in terms of meeting the needs of new students and complying with the quarantine-related measures.

Although there is a novelty in experiencing these events online, the void of being able to meet people face-to-face remains. Owing to the accumulation of varied experiences compared to the previous year, many organizations are preparing various events. Despite the excitement being mellowed, The UOS Times hopes that new students will still make a lot of memories.