Last week, the University of Texas System announced that all spring commencement ceremonies will be postponed until further notice. Associate Vice President of University Marketing and Communications, Patrick Gonzales explains that only the ceremony is postponed.
Students will still be able to graduate and receive degrees. It’s only the ceremonies that are being postponed.
According to an email sent by UTRGV, students will receive their diploma “upon certification of graduation requirements.”
Viridiana Juarez is graduating this semester with a Masters in Speech Language and Pathology. Juarez says that she understands why they took action, but thinks the University System acted too soon.
They did what they had to do in order to protect everyone… In a sense it’s too soon because we don’t know how long this is going to last. But I mean, graduation isn’t until May, which is in like two months.
Gonzales says that graduation fees go toward the application and part of it goes to help pay the commencement ceremonies.
If we are able to reschedule then those fund would just be applied to that new commencement, a final decision has not been made on that.
The UT System letter stated that the ceremonies will be “most likely in the fall.” Gonzales says that UTRGV will be sending emails to announce any future decisions.
Reporter Samantha Garza
