Minot State University has canceled the spring commencement ceremony that had originally been scheduled for May. The action was taken due to the coronavirus epidemic.

A message sent to students this week by President Steve Shirley said, “We are working through various options to find alternative ways of celebrating our graduates. We are aware of the current petition requesting a ceremony next fall. All options are on the table right now and we will continue exploring the best way to appropriately recognize our graduates, but please know there will not be a traditional graduation ceremony in May.”

The university had already canceled face-to-face classes and moved to online instruction for the remainder of the semester. Most students were asked to move out of the residence halls and will receive a refund for unused portions of residence hall and dining services contracts. A few international students and other students who had nowhere else to go have been permitted to continue living in the dorms and receiving take out meals from dining services.

A student emergency fund is also available for students undergoing hardship. More information is available at www.minotstateu.edu/finaid/pages/student-emergency-fund.shtml. The university is also seeking donations to that fund. Information is available on the university’s website at give.minotstateu.edu/pages/home-2037.