FLORENCE, AL - Officials at the University of North Alabama on Wednesday announced that the Spring 2020 commencement ceremonies, originally scheduled for Friday, May 9 and Saturday, May 10, would be canceled as a result UNA's ongoing response to the COVID-19 global pandemic and recommendations regarding social distancing.

"These are unprecedented times we're in, and it calls for unprecedented measures to accommodate our students and celebrate their success as graduates of the University of North Alabama," said President Ken Kitts. "This decision was taken with significant deliberation and consultation with leaders across campus, including representatives from the Student Government Association."

Students scheduled to graduate in May will have an opportunity to return to campus in August in order to participate in a face-to-face commencement ceremony. The commencement schedule is as follows:

• On Friday, July 31, at 6 p.m. in Flowers Hall, degrees will be conferred to graduates from the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions and the College of Education and Human Sciences.

• On Saturday, Aug. 1, at 10 a.m., in Flowers Hall, degrees will be conferred to graduates from the College of Arts and Sciences.

• On Saturday, Aug. 1, at 2 p.m., in Flowers Hall, degrees will be conferred to graduates from the College of Business.

"Our students have expressed and supported the inclusion of the spring commencement ceremonies with the summer commencement ceremonies," said Ron Patterson, Chief Enrollment Officer. "By combining both ceremonies, we allow our students to create lasting memories, especially for their families and friends. Graduates and families are able to participate and commemorate this wonderful journey with a graduation ceremony."

The Keller Key and Turris Fidelis awards for spring and summer graduates will be presented at the ceremonies scheduled for August.

About The University of North Alabama

The University of North Alabama is an accredited, comprehensive regional state university offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs through the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business, Education and Human Sciences, and the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions. Occupying a 130-acre campus in a residential section of Florence, Alabama, UNA is located within a four-city area that also includes Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia. UNA Athletics, a renowned collegiate athletics program with seven (7) Division II National Championships, is now a proud member of the NCAA Division I's ASUN Big South Conference. The University of North Alabama is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate in the admission policy on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability, age, or national origin. For more: rwf.169577.com and rwf.169577.com/unaworks/