UPDATE: March 18 at 9:00 p.m.

President Chris Howard sent an update Wednesday evening, stating that a replacement in-person commencement would take place during the Fall 2020 semester for those interested. 

ORIGINAL STORY

MOON TOWNSHIP – The 2020 Commencement ceremony at Robert Morris University, originally scheduled for May 8-9, has been canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

In an e-mail from university President Dr. Chris Howard, Robert Morris University will be taking a different approach to the graduation ceremony this year to avoid a large gathering. The email outlined a virtual approach as the substitute for for this year’s commencement.

The ceremony will be streamed online and can be viewed by whoever chooses to view it. A souvenir program will also be mailed to those who are in the graduating class. Cords for those who earned them will be mailed out as well.

The possibility of an in-person ceremony is up in the air and may be included with the Class of 2021 ceremony.

“I am very sorry that this has to happen and I can only imagine what a disappointment this must be to our graduating seniors and those preparing to complete Master’s and Doctoral degrees,” President Howard stated.

Future updates about the ceremony will be sent out via e-mail through the Office of Academic Affairs.