Some US colleges cancel, postpone graduation over virus
Colleges over the US have begun canceling and curtailing graduation amid fears that the coronavirus pandemic will stretch into spring. Some are exploring "virtual" alternatives, while others are considering inviting seniors back for commencement at a later time or maybe mailing out diplomas.
Schools including Brigham Young University, the Savannah College of Art and Design and Berea College are among those telling students that current commencement ceremonies have been canceled. But dozens of other schools say it's too soon to decide, leaving families uncertain about whether to book flights and hotels and students wondering whether to acquire caps and gowns for the walk over the stage.
The graduation decision has been made as colleges scramble to go instruction online and send students home early, a move being created by dozens of schools in an attempt to curb spread of the virus. The set of those moving to the web continued to grow Thursday, with schools from Southern Methodist University to the University of Alaska making the change.
At Grinnell College in Iowa, which is sending students home this month, officials said you will have no "traditional" graduation ceremony. Instead, the institution is mulling how it might honor graduating seniors in an online ceremony. Officials are also debating whether to bring seniors back 2021 and give you a ceremony for just two classes at once.
"You want to be celebrate and cherish our students," said Anne Harris, dean and vice president for academic affairs at the private school of 1 1,700 students. "But we were following logic: If we're sending every person out, why would we bring every person back in?"
Some students say they understand the necessity for caution but would feel robbed if indeed they missed a milestone that they spent years attempting to reach.
At Wesleyan University in Connecticut, which is still weighing options, senior Melisa Olgun said commencement is a celebration not merely of her school career but also the sacrifices that her parents, immigrants from Turkey, designed to get her there. Olgun is the first in her family to graduate from a U.S. university and wants her mother to see her accept her diploma.
"This diploma is not merely for myself. It's for my family, it's for my parents," Olgun said. "That ability to stand on that stage, to do that, is something I am thinking about and dreaming of since I was a young girl."
Officials at Cornell University said they still desire to host their traditional ceremony but added that "it really is unknown at the moment whether that'll be possible." Florida International University told students that events are "likely to proceed" but said officials are also focusing on "possible alternative plans."
The coronavirus has infected around 128,000 persons worldwide and killed over 4,700. The death toll in the US climbed to 39, with over 1,300 infections.
For many people, the virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as for example fever and cough. For a few, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it could cause more extreme illnesses, including pneumonia. A large proportion of people get over the virus in a matter of weeks.
Schools say they're following a advice of the united states Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and state health officials who are recommending against mass gatherings as the virus spreads. Governors in a few states have needed limits on large events. But schools say it's hard to forecast where things will stand in 8 weeks, and some say it will be premature to cancel.
Some colleges, however, said they're canceling now so they don't force parents to scuttle their plans at the last minute.
Berea College in Kentucky was one of the primary to cancel ceremonies this week, telling students it might be rescheduled "to a date when such a gathering can be conducted safely." Officials said these were erring privately of caution but still want to honor students.
"They've worked hard and you want to recognize all that they've accomplished. But you want to do that in a manner that protects them and doesn't jeopardize their safety," said Tim Jordan, a school spokesman.
Some schools are scaling back ceremonies without eliminating them entirely. The Florida Institute of Technology says the school's spring ceremony will be broken into several smaller events that only students will be permitted to attend. Families should be able to watch online, officials said, and graduates may also return for summer or fall exercises.
California State University, Sacramento, said it will make a decision about commencement once officials have "an improved understanding of the ongoing impact" of the virus. But the school has made a decision to cancel all other graduation activities, including hooding ceremonies and cultural celebrations.
At Harvard University, senior Tom Osborn is now wondering whether his family from Migori, Kenya, should cancel their plans to go to for graduation. The institution, which is sending students home this week, said it's too early to make a decision but officials will work on contingency plans.
"It was going to be my family's first-time to campus. These were all excited," said Osborn, who's studying psychology. "It's unfortunate. I am hoping things will still workout."
