University of Toronto cancels all convocation ceremonies for this spring

The University of Toronto has cancelled all convocation ceremonies that were planned for the spring 2020 season, with respect to physical distancing due to COVID-19.

The ceremonies were scheduled to take place between June 2 and 19.

Students who complete their degree requirements will still graduate, and will receive their degrees and parchments, the school says.

Further, the university says that it is exploring possible alternative ways to celebrate the springtime graduates, and more information on that is to come.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the directives from the government regarding social distancing, #UofT has made the difficult decision to cancel all Convocation ceremonies for the Spring 2020 season, previously scheduled to take place from June 2-19.

— University of Toronto (@UofT) March 25, 2020

For now, however, the University of Toronto’s webpage on the coronavirus and convocation says that June 2020 graduates will not be allowed to attend a future ceremony — Fall 2020 or Spring 2021 celebrations, for instance.

In Wednesday’s announcement, the university said that the decision was “difficult.”

Students who complete their degree requirements will still graduate and receive their degrees and parchments. We are currently exploring possible alternative means of celebrating your graduation, and we will share more information when it is available.

— University of Toronto (@UofT) March 25, 2020

“We appreciate that this decision will come as a huge disappointment to our graduating students, their families, friends, teachers and mentors,” the university said.

More information about the cancellations and what protocols will be followed instead can be found on the university’s webpage for COVID-19 and convocation.

Meanwhile, York University also announced Wednesday that its spring 2020 convocation ceremonies are postponed.

They too are working to determine other ways to celebrate their students successes.