Commencement canceled due to COVID-19
Photo Courtesy of Brian Stauffer
Graduating students wait to walk across the stage and receive their diplomas during commencement in 2018 at Memorial Stadium.
March 17, 2020
University commencement has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, UI President Tim Killeen announced Tuesday afternoon in a Massmail.
Diplomas will be mailed to the Class of 2020. Killeen said University administration is “exploring possible alternatives such as rescheduling and/or hosting virtual events” for graduating seniors.
The move was inspired by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendation to avoid gatherings of 50 people or more for the next eight weeks.
“Every year, ceremonies across the U of I System draw anywhere from a few hundred people at school- and college-based commencements to more than 20,000 at Urbana’s University-wide event,” Killeen said.
Commencement’s original date of May 16 is just six days after the CDC’s eight-week benchmark.
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“We are proud of your sacrifice and your success, Class of 2020, and we promise we will find ways to honor your achievements,” Killeen said.
