The Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) announced Friday the college-wide cancellation of its spring semester commencement ceremonies due to the impact of COVID-19.
“We have decided to cancel DMACC’s spring commencement to protect the health of students, faculty and staff and the thousands of family and guests who attend these events,” said DMACC President Rob Denson. “Instead, we will use funds that would have paid for graduation ceremonies for direct service to students who are impacted by the COVID-19.”
The cancellation impacts the May 6 commencement ceremonies planned for the Wells Fargo Arena in downtown Des Moines, the DMACC Boone Campus commencement in the Boone Campus gymnasium and the DMACC Carroll Campus commencement in the Carroll High School.
All graduating students who meet the requirements will receive their diplomas or degrees by mail in the weeks following the end of the term, Denson said.
“We are hoping we can eventually reschedule these events so our students and their families can celebrate this significant accomplishment,” he said. “We are also exploring options for a virtual or livestreamed graduation address.”
Denson said any student who cannot attend a rescheduled or virtual graduation ceremony will be able to participate in an upcoming ceremony within a year of his or her official date.
“We will do the best we can,” he said. “We believe that it’s important that students have the opportunity to walk across that stage, receive their diploma and be recognized for successfully completing this milestone in their academic career.”
