YSU Postpones Spring Commencement Ceremony

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – After moving all classes online for the remained for the semester, Youngstown State University has postponed the spring commencement ceremony.

It was initially scheduled for May 9.

In a statement, YSU President Jim Tressel said the ceremony usually attracts more than 5,000 visitors in addition to the graduating students, well beyond the Centers for Disease Control’s recommendation of limiting gatherings to 50 people.

“It is in everyone’s best interest that we postpone the Spring Commencement ceremony. Our hopes are that we can hold the ceremony later in the summer,” Tressel said. “We will keep you informed of those plans. In any case, graduates will still have their degrees conferred on May 9, and diplomas will be mailed a short time after.”

The move is the university’s latest response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. After extending spring break an additional week, YSU announced that all classes would be held remotely for the rest of the semester, beginning March 23. 

“Know that, while we are saddened by this action, we also are most proud of you, your hard work and your perseverance in these unprecedented times,” Tressel said to students in the statement. 

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.