Spring Ceremony Rescheduled to be Held in the Fall During Week of Homecoming 2020, on Oct. 15th
Morgan State University President David K. Wilson announced that the Spring 2020 Commencement, which had been postponed to comply with an executive order from the Governor of Maryland prohibiting any large gatherings due to the threat of COVID-19, will be rescheduled for the fall and held at Hughes Memorial Stadium during the week of Homecoming 2020, on Oct. 15. In addition, a special ‘Virtual Recognition Ceremony’ will be held for all of the graduating students on May 16, at 10 a.m., the date and time the undergraduate ceremony would have taken place.
“We are very proud of all our graduating students and salute their accomplishments. It is unfortunate that we will be unable to recognize their hard work in reaching this milestone by hosting a traditional commencement ceremony for the students and their families to enjoy, however, we will still honor them, for now virtually, until we are able to provide them with a full graduation experience in the fall,” said Dr. Wilson. “We want all of our graduates and their families to watch online on May 16, as we let them know that they are a special class amid very special circumstances. Theirs will be a graduation class remembered by history.”
Wilson asked the University’s Commencement Planning Committee to come up with a way to honor Morgan’s spring graduates virtually. The video-based Virtual Recognition Ceremony that was conceived will consist of messages given by President Wilson, Provost Lesia Crumpton-Young, Ph.D., and recorded messages from all of the deans at Morgan. Degrees for all graduates will also be a conferred during this virtual event, in addition, all graduates are encouraged to watch online until the end for a special surprise. The recorded Ceremony will be streamed via the University’s Commencement site and Morgan’s YouTube channel.
Recognizing the many challenges that Morgan students faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, President Wilson also made the decision to have the University cover the costs for purchasing and shipping graduation regalia for all of the spring graduates receiving bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Students that ordered and received their cap and gowns will have the opportunity to hold on to them to use during the rescheduled commencement in the fall as well as to take photos now to be used for the Virtual Recognition Ceremony video.
Following the Virtual Recognition Ceremony all graduates that have been academically and financially cleared will receive their physical diplomas by mail in June.
Provided that the state and city are open for business and restrictions have been eased regarding large gatherings of people, Morgan will host a traditional, full commencement ceremony based on confirmed attendees. The ceremony is scheduled to take place during Homecoming Week, on Thursday, Oct. 15, when a number of alumni traditionally return to campus to reconnect and fellowship. The University still plans to hold its scheduled Fall 2020 Commencement in December at Hill Field House.
About Morgan
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified doctoral research institution offering more than 126 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland’s Preeminent Public Urban Research University, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.
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