MacEwan University,

Today April 2,2020 at 1:15pm, we the student's of MacEwan University received an email stating that "the University has decided to make the difficult, yet necessary, decision to cancel Spring Convocation" and that due to the complexity of the COVID-19 situation and "the scale and complexity of convocation itself, it is not possible to postpone or reschedule Spring Convocation". 

We the students, understand and empathize with the fact that COVID-19 has had many profound effects and that this is an unprecedented situation. We recognize that this may have been a difficult decision for the University. However, Convocation is an especially important event to symbolize the completion and acknowledge the effort, struggles, perseverance and commitment by MacEwan University students in order to receive their Certificates, Diplomas and Degrees. Convocation is an important time for our families too, to celebrate our academic milestone. Not to mention, for a lot of families, graduates of Spring 2020 are also some of the first in their family to receive a post-secondary Certificate, Diploma or Degree. 

Convocation has been something all students have looked forward to since beginning our studies and what has driven us when we've felt like giving up. Having Convocation to look forward to has also helped us cope amidst the current COVID-19 situation. 

We are aware that the Winspear Centre needs advanced bookings, and that it is not possible to add our graduating class in the Fall 2020 Convocation and therefore, are requesting to join the Spring 2021 class if the Winspear Centre is used. We the students, unanimously agree that the venue is not a priority when it comes to the Convocation ceremony and are willing to attend Convocation in Fall 2020 or at a later date at a different venue. 

We are hoping that the precedence of the University of Alberta, NAIT, University of Calgary (Edmonton Location), Concordia University of Edmonton, Carleton University. University of Waterloo, Wilfred Laurier, and the University of British Columbia of postponing Convocation can be implemented at MacEwan University.  

We are requesting you please reconsider the decision to cancel Spring 2020 Convocation, and give the graduating Spring 2020 classes our Convocation that we have tirelessly worked towards over the years. In either Spring Convocation 2021 or any appropriate time in the future, as we have worked hard to earn this day. 

If needed, we agree to voluntarily collaborate with MacEwan in finding venues for all 6 graduating classes of Spring 2020 by creating a Convocation committee. 

The way in which MacEwan will respond to reconsidering Convocation as postponed, NOT CANCELLED, as other institutions have for their students, is a direct reflection of the value and respect MacEwan University has for their students.