The in-person commencement that was originally scheduled for Aug. 8 has been canceled, according to an email sent to recent graduates from President Bob Caslen.
"When we announced the tentative ceremony last month, it was conditional on coronavirus infection levels remaining relatively low," Caslen said. "Unfortunately, South Carolina has experienced a marked increase in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks and both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and our own public health experts do not believe it is safe to host a large in-person gathering because of the increased risk of transmission."
A virtual commencement will be available publicly on Aug. 8 and include a statement from President Bob Caslen and university leadership. Names will be announced and displayed in the ceremony.
Two days prior to Caslen announcing the cancelation of the in-person ceremony, Gamecock Student Tickets was selling tickets to the graduation.
Spring and summer 2020 graduates will be invited back to the next in-person commencement.
This decision comes after the university announced on May 19 that commencement was canceled and on June 18 that there would be an in-person ceremony.