Commencement Update

Thursday, November 05, 2020 

With December Commencement getting close, I wanted to give you an update.

The virtual Commencement we held in September just didn’t feel particularly satisfying. Unfortunately, the number of positive COVID cases in the El Paso community has grown over the past several weeks.

We sent a survey this week to our spring and summer 2020 graduates and fall 2020 candidates for their input. We have asked them to share their preference by the end of this week.

One option is an in-person ceremony with masks and distancing with no guests and no other campus activities in December. COVID testing in advance might be required. The other option is delaying Commencement to May and doing it in Sun Bowl Stadium with restrictions based on the state of the pandemic and whether we have a vaccine at that time. Both ceremonies would be live-streamed for families and friends at home.

We expect to make a decision after hearing from the graduates. That decision will take into consideration the graduates’ feedback and community health conditions.

Expect a decision shortly.

Warm Regards,

Heather Wilson

President