Bishop’s postpones convocation

Bishop’s University took further action on Friday in the ongoing efforts to limit the spread of the coronavirus by announcing that its 2020 convocation will be postponed until at least the end of August.

In a letter addressed to the class of 2020 that was published on the school’s website as well as in a video message shared on social media, Bishop’s Principal and Vice-chancellor Michael Goldbloom explained that the ceremonies will not be held on June 5 and 6 as originally planned. Instead he offered the tentative date of August 28 and 29, just before the start of the next academic year.

“For now, the August dates are tentative,” Goldbloom shared. “We recognize that even if the pandemic has diminished at that time, it may not be possible to hold such a large gathering which will require people to travel to Lennoxville from across Canada and from around the world.”

Acknowledging that convocation represents the culmination of what Bishop’s students are working to achieve, the principal said that a definitive decision about the August dates will be made by July 1.

“I hope that you will put the new dates into your calendar, but I would encourage you to ensure that your travel costs are refundable in the eventuality that we are obliged to choose a later date for Convocation,” he wrote. “I very much hope that we will be able to hold our Convocation in August and that we will be able to celebrate your graduation together.”