After extensive consideration, the university has made the difficult decision to cancel the in-person commencement ceremonies that were scheduled for Aug. 8 for our Spring, 2020, graduates.
The recent surge in coronavirus in Louisiana and across the nation and the extension of the Phase 2 reopening plan for the state made it imperative for us to review all aspects of the planned graduation program and to ultimately cancel the ceremonies.
Paramount in our decision was the safety and health of the graduates, their families, faculty and staff members and other guests that would have participated in the programs.
All of us at the university regret any inconvenience that cancellation of the ceremonies might have caused our graduates and their families and friends. We felt that it was important to make this decision now to allow those who would have participated in the ceremonies time to change their summer plans and schedules.
Our sincere apologies go out especially to every member of the Spring, 2020, graduating class, which overcame unprecedented challenges and interruptions to complete their studies.
We are grateful for your participation in the virtual commencement program for the Spring, 2020, graduating class that reflected the university’s esteem and admiration for the individuals who reached such an important milestone under the most difficult circumstances imaginable.
The tremendous positive response to that ceremony underscored the significance of those graduates’ achievements and the heartfelt efforts of the university to honor them.
Even after the in-person program to honor these graduates has been delayed twice now, we still hope to recognize them at a traditional commencement ceremony and will invite them to participate in the university’s next graduation exercises. We hope that will be in December.
Again, we are sorry for the cancellation of the August program and wish all of our graduates the very best in their future endeavors.
Sincerely,
Chris Maggio, President
