University of Lynchburg President Dr. Alison Morrison-Shetlar announced in an email today that Commencement exercises for undergraduate and graduate degree candidates, previously rescheduled for the weekend of Oct. 30, will be postponed until May 2021. An exact date will be set at a later time.
“Given the continued uncertainty of the pandemic and the ongoing prohibition of large gatherings, the Commencement Committee has determined that we cannot safely hold Commencement this fall as we continue our vigilance to ensure the safety of our community,” Morrison-Shetlar said.
Having safely reopened campus, with classes starting on Aug. 12 using a mix of in-person, hybrid, and online formats, the focus now is on staying open, the president said. That includes reducing the number of guests on campus.
“I am so appreciative and proud of your hard work and perseverance in completing your spring semester and your final days as University of Lynchburg students,” Morrison-Shetlar told the Class of 2020 in an email on Monday. “I understand the disappointment you felt in May when we first postponed and that you surely feel again today. … I do hope that you will be able to return to the Dell in the spring for the celebration you so deserve.”
In the meantime, “alumni of all generations” will toast the Class of 2020 during the virtual Homecoming scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17, Morrison-Shetlar said.
Information on regalia for Commencement will be provided by the Campus Store later this month.
“I hope that you feel the University of Lynchburg prepared you well for your lives beyond the Dell, and that in some small way, it has helped you to weather these trying times,” Morrison-Shetlar said.
“I know that both you and this great University can look forward to brighter days, and I look forward to the day when we can celebrate your future together at Commencement.”
