COVID-19 has greatly affected UTM in many ways.
UTM has not only canceled in-person classes for the rest of the semester, but has also canceled in-person commencement, which was planned for May 2.
Graduation will be rescheduled for a later date, which will be announced in the future. UTM Chancellor Dr. Keith Carver has said via social media that the university is working on a plan for graduation. One option being floated is to do a virtual ceremony online where all the names of graduating seniors are read.
Other schools across the United States have postponed their graduation ceremonies until August.
“Commencement is the crowning event of a student’s academic career, and I pledge to creatively work with a campus team to develop an alternative to the traditional graduation ceremony,” Carver said. “Simply put, your degrees will be conferred and we will celebrate your graduation. More details will be forthcoming in the weeks to come.”
Even though there will not be a big celebration at UTM on May 2, some students are still planning to celebrate on their own.
Jesse Shields, a Communications major, says he will have a small get-together with his quarantined family. He has decided not to do the typical senior pictures, but he says that his family will take plenty of pictures on his “graduation day.”
Trevor Holcomb, a Communications major, is hoping to celebrate his graduation in a unique way with one of his fraternity brothers in Sigma Chi. If they are able, they are going to hold a fake ceremony at the Sigma Chi house so that their parents can see them “graduate.”
Holcomb said that a brother who is not graduating will play the role of Carver and hand the two brothers their “diplomas,” which will really be an alcoholic beverage. Holcomb says that his mom still bought his cap and gown to keep and take pictures in because he is the first in his immediate family to graduate from college.
Brooke Boshers, a Communications major, said she has not thought much about what she wants to do on May 2, but she knows that she wants to celebrate and make the most out of her day with family and friends. She plans to still take senior pictures, but she has decided it is best to wait until the summer after things have possibly calmed down.
Brendan Page, a Communications major, said that he hopes some places will be opened back up so he can go out and celebrate with his family. If not, he will have a get-together with some of his family in his home. He intends to still take senior pictures as he has been thinking about when and where for four years.
While many students at UTM have expressed their disappointment that they will not be able to walk across the stage on May 2, they say they are comforted by the effort their chancellor has made during this time to stay connected with his students.
Carver has made certain that students at UTM still feel connected to the university, even though some may be thousands of miles away. He has interacted with students via social media at least five days a week since most students were sent home over three weeks ago.
