Over 40 years ago the local High Schools were smart enough that, as a backstop against any sort of disruption, all the diploma folders they handed out on stage at their Graduation ceremonies were EMPTY. AFTER the entire event was OVER, everyone was sent backstage to get their actual Diplomas.
We had about 40 members of the Class who still needed to complete Summer school to get the last few credits they needed, but handling graduation the way they did let them participate in the official proceedings along with everyone else, which was a nice gesture on the part of the District.
Too bad Columbia et. al. aren’t quite so brilliant.
That would have been the smart way to do it.