Bradley University has announced it will discontinue 20 academic programs and eliminate 61 faculty positions in order to reduce a $13 million budget deficit.
Bradley University commencement ceremonies will be held in-person this spring.
Six ceremonies will be hosted at Shea Stadium on May 15 and May 16. The university said it is breaking its usual one ceremony into six to allow for smaller gatherings and social distancing.
Students and guests will be expected to wear masks and sanitize. Each graduate can bring two guests. Ceremonies will be livestreamed.
“I am delighted by this announcement, it’s been a long time coming, said Bradley President Stephen Standifird in a prepared statement. Throughout the academic year, we have hoped for the best but remained vigilant in order to get here. I am so proud of our campus community, and I can’t wait to celebrate our 2020 and 2021 graduates face-to-face.”
Originally published on March 18, 2021 5:38 pm
Bradley University is planning a full return to traditional, in-person education in the fall 2021 semester assuming current COVID-19 trends hold.
“Bradley is committed to being fully back on campus in the fall, but the specifics are still being worked out,” said Bradley President Stephen Standifird in a prepared statement on Wednesday. “We plan to return to in-person learning as our primary delivery method, while following all federal, state and local guidelines, including those regarding masks, physical distancing, testing protocols, gathering sizes and any new guidelines that may be added.”
The campus positivity rate has hovered under 1% since students returned from winter break for the spring semester. That return included an initial two-week student campus quarantine, albeit with classes still conducted in-person for many students.