An email was sent out to students on May 13, 2020 saying that after careful consideration DU has decided to postpone Spring 2020 Commencement because of concerns about the coronavirus. They said that in order to properly celebrate students, Spring 2020 Commencement will now happen in three stages.

Spring Commencement, as it is typically done, will be postponed. They said they are anticipating the Spring 2020 Commencement will be held in spring 2021 instead, and students will know for certain by early 2021.

To celebrate graduates now, DU will be holding a Day of Recognition on Friday, June 12. Administrators, deans, and Chancellor Jeremy Haefner will be dressed in full academic regalia and pay tribute to graduates via a digital ceremony that will be shared all over social media. Chancellor Haefner will also confer graduates via the digital Day of Recognition. The video will be released at noon MDT.

Recognizing that a digital ceremony cannot capture the pride and joy of graduating college, DU is also planning an in-person celebration. On June 12 from 3-6 MDT at Mary Reed Circle on campus, Chancellor Haefner and Corinne Lengsfeld, interim provost and executive vice chancellor, will have an “in-person Commencement photo moment” with graduating students who sign up.

The email ended with a word from Chancellor Haefner. He said, “I know we can’t possibly replicate right now what your expectations were for Commencement 2020, but we do hope our plan achieves our greatest desire: to celebrate the achievements of our graduates and to express our genuine gratitude for the families, faculty, and staff who made such success possible.”