Once again, renovations are affecting Loyola’s students, but this time, the construction is nowhere near the university’s campus. The drawback: the class of 2011 will drive further to graduate on a smaller stage.

According to Cissy Petty, vice president for Student Affairs and associate provost, commencement ceremony will take place inside the Earnest N. Morial Convention Center this year, due to renovations to the Superdome.

Construction is scheduled to resume in January, following the New Orleans Saints season, and continue throughout May, forcing both Loyola and Tulane to make appropriate arrangements.

New Orleans NBC affiliate, WDSU, reported June 27, that the Superdome’s facilities will receive a series of upgrades and additions totaling approximately $85 million. Some of those improvements include installing more seats to increase maximum capacity and more vendor locations throughout the stadium. 

Loyola explored other possible venues to host the ceremony. However, there were few places in New Orleans that able comfortably accommodate the graduating class, their families and friends. Petty said the New Orleans Arena, which held commencement for the graduating class of 2007, could not be booked by Loyola or Tulane University for unspecified reasons. “I know it’s really disappointing but we’ll due everything possible to make it special,” Petty said.

Petty also said Loyola is working to find a very special commencement speaker for the class of 2011, however, one has not yet been chosen.   

Craig Malveaux can be reached at [email protected]