LAKE CHARLES, La. — SOWELA Technical Community College announced on Tuesday that it would be postponing its Spring 2020 commencement exercises that had been scheduled for May 19 due to concerns over the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
According to a release about the postponement, the college said it is assessing the feasibility of rescheduling the ceremony for a later date.
School officials say that if a reschedule date is not possible, students who would have walked during the May 19 Commencement will be invited to participate in the Fall 2020 Commencement Ceremony on Friday, Dec. 18, in the Lake Charles Civic Center at 6:30 p.m.
SOWELA says its Commencement Committee is working to determine the best course of action, and will be sending surveys for student feedback on the best way to move forward.
School officials state that students who complete their programs of study by May 11 will still earn their credentials and graduate even though they may not participate in a formal commencement ceremony. Academic transcripts will be available, and diplomas will be mailed to graduates in June.
SOWELA students with questions about commencement exercises, diplomas or academic transcripts are asked to contact the registrar, Laura Lafleur, at Laura.Lafleur@sowela.edu.
