Chancellor Mo Dehghani sent the following message to the S&T community on April 2:

Dear Distinguished Colleagues and Dear Friends,

This morning, I announced to our May 2020 graduating class that we are postponing our Spring Commencement ceremonies to a date to be determined. Postponing this celebration and milestone event in the life of every student was an incredibly difficult decision. Yet given the historic circumstances we now face, and out of concerns for the safety and health of our university community and our graduates, their families and loved ones, and other visitors, postponement is the right thing to do.

Commencement is an important milestone for every university student and their loved ones. It is an opportunity to celebrate remarkable achievements and hard work, a time of joy and celebration, an opportunity to individually recognize every graduating student. I firmly believe that every Missouri S&T graduate should have the opportunity to personally receive the diploma they’ve worked so hard to earn in the presence of their loved ones, closest friends, fellow graduates and university community.

That is why we are postponing Spring Commencement, not canceling it. We will not allow this current public health crisis to steal from our graduates the opportunity to celebrate their achievements. Our planning is underway for a later commencement ceremony for the Class of 2020, as well as some type of virtual ceremony in May, and I will announce those plans soon.  

We will still confer degrees when our graduating students have completed all requirements to be eligible to graduate, but no formal ceremony will be held in May 2020.

I admire the incredible resilience of all our students, faculty and staff, and their ability to persevere through these extraordinary times. I have no doubt that the Missouri S&T Class of 2020 will persevere through these current adversities to learn and grow in ways heretofore unimaginable.

Soon, we will announce a date and plans for this postponed commencement, as well as a special opportunity to connect virtually in May.

Sincerely,

Mo Dehghani
Chancellor