Coronavirus In RI: URI, Brown University Cancel Spring Graduation

KINGSTON, RI — Two more Rhode Island universities have canceled their commencement exercises. on Tuesday, both the University of Rhode Island and Brown Univeristy have made the "difficult" decision to cancel their graduation ceremonies due to concerns about the coronavirus, school officials said.

In a statement, URI officials said the decision was made in accordance with current recommendations for social distancing and avoiding group gatherings. In lieu of the traditional graduation weekend on May 16 and 17, the university is seeking ideas for an alternate celebration. The university will accept public feedback through an online survey until Thursday.

"The University is deeply committed to ensuring our prospective graduates and their families have an opportunity to celebrate and share one of their greatest life achievements," the statement said. "We will continue to identify ways for us to engage as a community, even if remotely. Thank you for your support, patience, and care for each other, Rhody Family!"

Brown University, meanwhile, said that a "virtual degree conferral ceremony" will be held over Memorial Day weekend, with more details to come. University officials hope to hold regular commencement exercises in October, though an official decision has not been made at this time.

Christina Paxton, the university's president, expressed her sympathy to the class of 2020 and said the school will do everything it can to ensure graduates have their celebration.

"It is important to me that we hold Commencement and Reunion as a community together, as we always do," Paxton wrote in a statement. "When I talk to Brown alumni about the single most memorable experience of their Commencement celebrations, they recall walking through the Van Wickle Gates and down the hill, with throngs of alumni, faculty and administrators lining the streets and applauding the new graduates. All of our 2020 graduating students deserve to have this tremendous experience."