HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Cap tossing will happen at home this week for many members of Marshall University’s Class of 2020.
Graduation celebrations were largely being planned online, at least for now, while physical distancing guidelines continue in the coronavirus pandemic.
“Although we can’t celebrate in person, our students are still earning their degrees on Saturday,” said Tiffany Davis, digital marketing manager in Marshall University’s Office of Communications.
“That’s a huge accomplishment and that’s something to celebrate no matter where our students are.”
Originally, commencement exercises were scheduled for this weekend, May 2, at Marshall University in Huntington.
A new date will be scheduled later for the formal ceremony at a time “when it is safe to do so,” possibly later in this summer or this fall.
“We’re really proud of our grads and we can’t wait to be able to celebrate them in person with that formal ceremony soon,” Davis said.
As a temporary substitute, virtual Marshall graduation events began on Monday and will continue through Saturday on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Participants were asked to use #MarshallGrad2020 on their posts.
Graduate profiles were part of plans along with congratulatory messages from President Jerome Gilbert and other university officials.
https://twitter.com/marshallu/status/1254765007532781570
Similar steps have been taken for alternative graduation ceremonies at colleges and universities across West Virginia since the final weeks of the 2020 Spring Semester were moved off campuses to try to limit spread of the novel coronavirus.
Distance learning began at Marshall University on March 30, the week after Marshall’s Spring Break, following the suspension of in-person classes earlier in the month.
“It’s been a little bit of a challenge, but it’s been great to use social media during this time because we’ve been able to connect with our students to see how they’re adapting, see what learning looks like for them over this past month,” said Davis of the transition.
Most Marshall offices have remained closed with staff members working remotely.
University officials said plans were being developed to possibly begin to reopen campus sites in late May or June.
In a campus letter issued this week, President Gilbert said in-person classes were tentatively scheduled to resume on Marshall’s campus this fall.
Aug. 24 was the scheduled start of the 2020 Fall Semester.
“Given the trends and projections available to us today, we believe that modifications to the fall semester — such as creative class scheduling and other social distancing strategies — can make that possible,” President Gilbert said.
This summer’s classes at Marshall along with orientation for new students was being moved online.
Like other institutions, the pandemic’s economic effects at Marshall could be significant.
Mark Robinson, chief financial officer for Marshall, is leading a budget group that started meeting virtually Tuesday.
The group’s charge is to identify ways to reduce Marshall’s budget by between $15 million and $25 million.