COMMENCEMENT CANCELED
The following is an email sent out to Phoenix College students on 3/23/20. We are sharing this here in case you missed this communication and would like to share it with friends, family, students, etc. Below is the message sent from Dr. Johnson himself and a message sent out to students on the same topic, by the Interim Chancellor, Dr. Steven Gonzales.
As the College continues to actively monitor the latest developments related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), I want to share the latest news distributed to the campus community from Dr. Steven Gonzales, Interim Chancellor. You have worked hard and deserve a chance to celebrate. Achieving this milestone represents your conclusion of an outstanding academic experience. Remember, no one can ever take away what you have achieved. I salute you for a job well done!
Sincerely,
Dr. Larry Johnson
President, Phoenix College
As we continue to navigate the rapidly changing COVID-19 situation, the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff and local communities remain our top priority.
Based on the input of public health professionals, our faculty leadership, and your college leadership, I have determined that in the interest of safety, we will cancel all in-person Commencement and Convocation ceremonies scheduled for April and May 2020.
We are as disappointed as you with this development. Commencements and the surrounding celebrations are the best events of our year, so it was not an easy decision to make, but we must put health and safety first, adhering to the direction state and local governments have given.
Commencement and Convocation celebrations are incredibly important milestones in your lives, and we are committed to giving you the celebration you have earned. While the ceremonies in May are canceled, we are exploring other options to bring together our graduates and their families at a later date in other venues when we can celebrate without health and safety concerns.
We will continue to keep you informed of new developments and new actions as they are taken. Please continue to visit maricopa.edu/coronavirus, as we update frequently with the latest information and advisories.
Sincerely,
Dr. Steven R. Gonzales
Interim Chancellor