Hofstra University President Stuart Rabinowitz announced that the May commencement exercises for undergraduate, graduate and law school students have been canceled due to COVID-19.

Rabinowitz says unlike other campuses, they held off on canceling the events knowing how meaningful a celebration was to the Hofstra Class of 2020. However, with social distancing guidelines extended until mid-May, there is no way of having a large event.

Rabinowitz says graduation has been postponed to August 23 at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex. 

The university says it hopes by late August they will be able to come together as a community.

However, if public health guidelines do not allow a gathering in the late summer, they will host a commencement in December at which all May and August 2020 graduates will be welcome.

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