May face-to-face commencement canceled

This story has been updated.

Texas Woman’s University confirmed in an announcement Wednesday that face-to-face commencement in May has been cancelled.

Provost Carolyn Kapinus sent the TWU community an email update Wednesday afternoon confirming the university has cancelled May’s face-to-face commencement ceremony and is considering having a virtual ceremony or August commencement for spring and summer graduates. Administrators “hope to make that decision in the next few weeks,” according to the announcement.

The email was prefaced by a tweet from TWU Chancellor Carine Feyten Tuesday which stated there would be no in-person commencement.

No F2F commencement in May. Alternatives are being considered. Check our corona virus website for specific answers in our FAQ. Great questions @ShwaunD thank you! https://t.co/smJZgvMn42

— Carine Feyten (@TWUpres) March 18, 2020

The move is in response to the rapidly evolving novel coronavirus pandemic. Two cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Denton County as of Tuesday afternoon. Denton City and Denton County last week declared states of emergency, and universities across the country including TWU have cancelled in-person classes and moved instruction online in an effort to control the spread of the virus.

Regalia purchased at the bookstore can be refunded and the link to refunds for caps and gowns purchased online will be provided shortly, Kapinus said. Invitations cannot be refunded.

Graduates are still responsible for the $40 graduation fee, which Kapinus said is paid whether a student attends commencement or not.

Some soon-to-be-graduates took to social media to express disappointment with the decision.

Honestly TWU could’ve at least postponed graduation and wait til everything plays out instead of just canceling but oh well

— Peyton 👑 (@Peyton_EEdwards) March 18, 2020

Kapinus assured students that administrators are working to find another way to celebrate graduates.

“This is disappointing for all of us, especially for our graduates and their loved ones,” Kapinus wrote. “We want to honor our graduates and we will find an alternative solution to celebrate their academic achievement!”

The Lasso is continuing to reach out to campus officials to answer questions and keep the TWU community updated with the latest information. Questions and tips can be submitted here.