Trusteeship - May/June 2020 - 41

  G O V IRTUAL

B Y CH ARLOTTE WEST

As it became clear that most colleges and universities
won't reopen their campuses before fall due to the
coronavirus pandemic, senior leadership at institutions
around the country faced the difficult decision
of whether to cancel their traditional graduation
ceremonies. Many campuses are turning to virtual
commencements to celebrate the class of 2020, with
plans to hold in-person events later in the year.

F

OR MANY INSTITUTIONS, figuring out whether to cancel commencement was a
careful balance between waiting as long as possible and still giving students and their
families enough notice to make plans. Ultimately, the health and safety of students
and staff at a time when large gatherings are prohibited made the answer clear.
"In considering what to do regarding commencement, we first wanted to assess the likelihood that a safe return to campus for a large event in May would even be possible," said Gregory Crawford, president of Miami University in Ohio.
After working with Ohio's Department of Health and local health officials, the university
administration decided to cancel its traditional commencement when it became clear that the
pandemic wouldn't be over in a few weeks. "Because safety is paramount, canceling the May
in-person ceremony, although disappointing to many...was the right decision," Crawford said.
Miami University will hold its virtual commencement on May 16 with an in-person gathering tentatively scheduled for September. More than 25,000 people normally attend Miami's
graduation ceremonies.
Crawford said that the Miami University Board of Trustees delegated his leadership team
the authority to manage university operations, including the timing and plans for commencement. "Before announcing the decision, we shared it with the trustees so they would be aware
in advance of the public announcement," Crawford said. "We believe our decision to provide
a virtual recognition of our graduates on their official commencement day in May, in addition
to the in-person experience when it is once again safe to assemble, struck an appropriate balance with Miami's culture and was in keeping with the overall guiding principles the Trustees
expect Miami's leaders to implement."
Jody Horner, president of Midland University in Nebraska, said she held out for as long as
possible before making the call to cancel her institution's traditional commencement. "Once
we figured out the writing on the wall, we wanted to act quickly to let our students and their
parents know," she says.

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Trusteeship - May/June 2020

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