UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Robert Johnson announced in a press release on March 16 that the university will postpone commencement for undergraduates, graduate, and law students, among other new precautions taken to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The undergraduate commencement ceremonies had been scheduled for May 8, and the graduate and law ceremonies for May 11.

Other precautions include delivering all courses online for the rest of the semester, banning students without prior written approval from residence halls for the rest of the semester, and cancelling all events through May 31.

A previous measure had postponed events and banned students from halls until early April, and another announcement on March 15 cancelled the university’s spring sports season.

Students not currently allowed back in to their halls will have to sign up for a two-hour “move-out appointment” through the university’s online housing portal in order to move out.

All UMass Dartmouth employees whose jobs are “suitable for working remotely” are also encouraged to work from home.

“It is an unsettling time, so I am enacting policy changes that will set our course for the remainder of the semester,” stated Johnson in the release. “This is not how anyone envisioned our academic year ending, but we must remain committed to fulfilling our mission as normally and safely as possible.”

“We are exploring all options to ensure that we send our graduating students off with the recognition they deserve for all their hard work,” the release continued. 

The deadline of April 1 to file for graduation will still apply.