After careful consideration, we are saddened to share that we will need to postpone or reconfigure our commencement ceremony originally scheduled for Saturday, May 23. We know that our commencement tradition holds special meaning for our students, their families, faculty and staff. Based on the guidance of public health experts and given the serious health concerns that we are presently dealing with, we cannot risk the safety and well-being of our students, their families, faculty and staff. While some may believe that the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis will subside by late May, given the rapid and evolving nature of this situation, the risk is too great to the community to assemble on our campus at that time.
We are in the process of exploring a couple of alternatives. One possibility is a virtual commencement ceremony. This idea is still in early development but updates will be provided in the next couple of weeks. In place of the May 23 commencement ceremony, we are also exploring the possibility of a rescheduled, in-person ceremony with a date to be determined. This plan is contingent on our public health status at that time.
While our traditional in-person commencement ceremony will not occur on May 23, we hope that we can create an experience that honors our graduates and their families. In an effort to collect the preferences of our graduates, we have designed a student survey that has been distributed to our students who are scheduled to graduate this year. Based on the input of our commencement planning committee, our student leaders and the survey responses we collect from our students who are scheduled to graduate this year, we will finalize a plan for commencement that ensures the safety of our students, their families, faculty and staff.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we continue to determine the best solution for our graduates during these unprecedented times.
Sincerely,
President Greg Schulz and your Fullerton College Family