WESTFIELD – Westfield State University (WSU) has officially rescheduled its graduation ceremony.

President Dr. Ramon S. Torrecilha announced in a letter to the campus community on April 30 that undergraduate and graduate commencement exercises had been rescheduled to Oct. 24 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield.

 “I recognize and lament the disappointment, confusion, and stress that this unprecedented crisis has put on individuals, families, and communities across the globe,” said Torrecilha. “And I deeply appreciate the teamwork and spirit displayed by our campus community to work together through these challenges.”

The university’s 181st commencement exercises were initially slated to take place May 14 for graduate students and May 16 for undergraduates but had been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic that closed the campus and forced faculty to resort to remote instruction for the remainder of the spring.

“Thank you to the members of the class of 2020 for their patience as we worked to provide a commencement solution. Westfield State University is eager to provide a ceremony that recognizes and applauds students’ worthy achievements as we welcome them with open arms into the Alumni Association,” Torrecilha said.

He added the WSU graduates should expect more information “including specifics on caps and gowns and plans for a web-based conferral of degrees and other commemoration of the semester close in mid-May” in the near future.