HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) - Marshall University has canceled next month’s commencement ceremony for the spring class of 2020 due to increasing cases of coronavirus.
The commencement was originally scheduled on May 2, but was postponed to Aug. 8 due to the pandemic. Marshall President Jerome Gilbert called the decision to cancel next month’s ceremony “incredibly difficult” but necessary in an email to graduates, news outlets reported.
“Unfortunately, West Virginia and Cabell County have experienced a steady and significant increase in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks,” Marshall President Jerome Gilbert said. “We consulted with the Cabell-Huntington Health Department and our own Marshall Health chief medical officer, and they do not believe it is safe to host such a large, in-person gathering due to the increased risk of transmitting the virus, even with the measures we had planned to protect graduates and guests.”
The university says it now plans to honor the Class of 2020 at its winter commencement on Dec. 12.
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