Planned October Commencement Events Cancelled

Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., president of The University of Scranton, announced the University’s decision to cancel class of 2020 commencement events planned for the weekend of Oct. 24-25.

“Today, I have the unfortunate task of sharing some bad news. Although we had hoped things would have settled down by now, the pandemic continues to be a challenge all across the country. Necessary limits put in place by Pennsylvania, prohibit us from moving ahead with our commencement scheduled for October,” said Father Pilarz in a video message sent to members of the University’s class of 2020 on Sept. 14.

“I have not made this decision lightly, and I do so with a genuine sense of disappointment and sadness. Nothing would have brought me greater joy than to have been able to gather your class as we had hoped and planned,” wrote Father Pilarz in an email message that linked to the video.

The University of Scranton held virtual celebrations in May for the members of its undergraduate and graduate class of 2020, at which the University announced the naming of the Class of 2020 Gateway in their honor. The University conferred degrees to graduates as a group at these celebrations. The University had planned to announce the graduates individually at its October commencement.