Covid-19 forces UCLan to cancel graduations for second time

Last year UCLan graduation ceremonies were held on campus for the first time

The graduation ceremony complete with cap and gown, is a rite of passage and features at the top of any university calendar.

But, when Covid-19 forced the University of Central Lancashire to cancel it’s annual summer graduation programme bosses vowed to incorporate the ceremonies into it’s December graduation timetable.

Now though former and soon-to-be graduates have been told the hoped-for winter schedule is off in the interest of health and safety.

However, the university is hoping to have some form of celebration and has asked students to tell them what they want.

A spokesman said the “difficult decision” not to hold a physical graduation ceremony was made in order to protect the safety and well being of everyone during the coronavirus pandemic.

The spokesman added: “We are disappointed that we cannot celebrate this special moment with our students in the way we would have liked and we’ve been working in partnership with the UCLan Students’ Union to find a suitable alternative.

“The university always prides itself on being an institution that listens to its students and in this spirit, we have contacted students who were set to graduate in summer and winter this year to ask for their opinions on a couple of options.

“These consist of: a virtual ceremony in December, with an opportunity to be photographed in cap and gown on campus, or, a more traditional event on campus during 2021

"Graduation is always one of the highlights of the year and we are optimistic that we can still make the day special and memorable for all students graduating in these unprecedented times."