Brigid Cooley
Editor-in-Chief
Texas A&M University-San Antonio is postponing spring commencement — probably until the fall — because of the COVID-19 pandemic, university officials announced last night.
“There is no question that this is a difficult moment,” Matson said in the email. “We are all uncertain about what comes next and each day seems to bring new worries. My goal, as your University president, is to relieve as much of the worry about your academic progress and future as possible.”
The graduation ceremony, originally scheduled for May 15, will likely take place in September 2020, according to an email sent to students from university President Cynthia Teniente-Matson and an email to faculty and staff from the Office of University Communications.
“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the decision to postpone our Spring 2020 Commencement,” Matson said in her email. “While many of you had started to anticipate this change, I understand that having it confirmed doesn’t make it any easier for you.”
Matson also discussed the postponement in an interview with The Mesquite the morning of March 18.
“What we are looking at, and we’ve been doing this over the last couple of days, is … alternative dates so that we can message to students we’re going to postpone to this time,” Matson said.
Matson said the university still plans to celebrate seniors in May and is working toward “some sort of a virtual experience in May, but have the official experience in the summer.”
The president’s office is hosting a virtual town hall meeting at 4 p.m. March 19 where students, faculty and staff can ask questions during the livestream. Students can access the meeting through a link provided in an email from the office of Student Success and Engagement; it will also stream on @studentlifetamusa’s Instagram Live.
Matson will be joined by Mari Fuentes-Martin, vice president of Student Success and Engagement, and Michael O’Brien, vice president of Academic Affairs and Provost. La-Tieka Sims, Student Government Association president, will moderate the discussion. Questions can be submitted beforehand through email to vpsse@tamusa.edu or during the event through the online chat.
“There is no question that this is a difficult moment,” Matson said in the email. “We are all uncertain about what comes next and each day seems to bring new worries. My goal, as your University president, is to relieve as much of the worry about your academic progress and future as possible.”
The commencement announcement and virtual town hall information is posted on https://www.tamusa.edu/coronavirus/.
The university joins the University of Texas at San Antonio in postponing commencement ceremonies. UTSA announced it will postpone its graduation until the summer or fall 2020, according to reports from The Paisano.
