The graduation ceremonies being held in Bathurst and Wagga Wagga are the first on-campus ceremonies the University has hosted since the COVID-19 pandemic started early last year.

Nearly 600 graduates will attend one of the eight ceremonies in Bathurst, with more than 1,800 family members and friends expected join them in the celebrations.

One 2020 graduate looking forward to his graduation ceremony is proud Lithgow and Wiradjuri man Mr Eli George.

The Bachelor of Computer Science graduate said he was disappointed when graduations were deferred last year.

"I understood that with everything happening because of COVID-19 it was necessary to postpone the ceremony," he said.

"Getting a random email saying that I have graduated is definitely a bit anti-climatic compared to a big ceremony and dressing up to celebrate your achievements, so I'm super pumped for it this year.

"After the many hours of hard work that students put into university, graduates should be able to have a sense of achievement and closure to that part of their lives, especially in such a tumultuous time."

Mr George studied in the Charles Sturt School of Computing and Mathematics in Bathurst while living in Lithgow, and said that even after the many months since he finished his degree, he's very excited to be able to attend his graduation ceremony. "All my family are excited, especially my mum," he said.

"She is attending with my dad and my sister, and they are all very excited for something they did not expect to happen at all, as well as being extremely proud of me.

"I'm really looking forward to accepting my bachelor's degree in my gown in front of all the graduates and their families, and finally throwing my cap into the air."

Mr George said he has always had an affinity with computers and programming has always interested him as one of the newest skills in the profession. "Since finishing university, I am now a software developer at an awesome cutting-edge e-learning company in Lithgow called Message Train," he said.

"The programming skills that I learned at Charles Sturt University, as well as a few other important skills regarding computers and how real businesses operate in a tech-forward capacity, have really come in handy in contributing to my position at Message Train."

Mr George said he has no new career ambitions at the moment, although he might eventually return to university for further study.

"I love my current position as I am learning new things on the job every day, and I'm happy to continue to contribute," he said.

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Interim Vice-Chancellor Professor John Germov said he was looking forward to welcoming the class of 2020 back to campus for the graduation ceremonies and celebrating this important milestone with them.

"Graduation ceremonies are an important life-changing milestone; not only do they mark the successful completion of one's current academic journey, they also signal the start of a new phase of life as our graduates apply their newfound capabilities to shape the world of tomorrow," Professor Germov said.

"That's why we made it a priority to confirm the rescheduled events for our 2020 graduates and have made every effort to give them as much opportunity as possible to plan to get to their ceremony.

"Although these ceremonies will be slightly smaller this year, to adhere to COVID-19 social distancing requirements, they will still include the same highlights and features our graduation ceremonies have had in the past.

"I would like to congratulate the class of 2020 and say on behalf of Charles Sturt University that we look forward to celebrating your outstanding achievements with you soon."

The University's graduation ceremonies will include the presentation of University Medals, alumni guest speakers, professional photography sessions, and a hospitality area for graduates to socialise with friends and family following their ceremonies. One new addition is that the University will now live stream the ceremonies.

Digital graduation programs will be available to access on the day for guests, and the graduates will be presented with a commemorative token as they cross the stage. These gifts are in lieu of their testamur, which were posted to graduates in 2020.

Bathurst Chamber of Commerce President Ms Catherine Fitzsimons said with nearly 2,000 people travelling to Bathurst for the University's graduation ceremonies, the impact on the local economy is significant.

"This is particularly true for businesses in the travel, hospitality and accommodation sectors," she said.

"As a well-established travel destination, Bathurst is accustomed to meeting the needs of visitors, and businesses relish the opportunity to make them feel welcome.

"The Bathurst Business Chamber congratulates all Charles Sturt University graduates and wishes them success in their careers, and, with their families, safe journeys."

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