MANSFIELD, PA (WENY) - Commencements around the world are being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Locally, colleges and universities are also affected. WENY News spoke with the president of Mansfield University on the phone about the school's plan.

President Charles Patterson says although some schools are planning a virtual commencement, he believes face-to-face ceremonies are more meaningful.

There is no exact date set for the school's graduation, however, there is a plan. The commencement is expected to be postponed until sometime in the summer or early fall. The student's were given options through a survey. They can choose either a summer commencement, early fall commencement, join the winter commencement or have a virtual ceremony.

Patterson says “we want our students to come back to campus, we don't want them to have to wait to cross the stage too much longer than they are going to have to wait already.”

Although this is a disruption for students and faculty, Patterson says the school's community is making the best of this unfortunate situation.