Newsroom Stories

Across St. Louis, America and the globe, the 3,298 graduates of Washington University in St. Louis gathered in front of screens May 14-15 to watch recognition ceremonies for their schools, academic departments and affinity groups. The virtual events replaced on-campus Commencement, which was postponed for the first time in university history due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Washington University faculty, students and staff routinely travel around the world to conduct research, study and strengthen relationships with partner institutions. Getting hundreds of WashU community members back from abroad during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic presented an enormous challenge. Here’s how it happened.

From digital memory books, Class of 2020 regalia T-shirts and messages of congratulations from celebrities and athletes, Washington University in St. Louis staff found new ways to celebrate students and honor the tradition of Commencement in the era of coronavirus.

As areas of the country begin to relax and do away with stay-at-home orders, things will not snap back to normal for all employees and organizations. This may seem obvious, but it has huge ramifications for what employers can and should expect from employees during this time, according to an expert at Washington University in St. Louis.

Washington University in St. Louis plans to welcome the graduating Class of 2020 back to campus for an in-person Commencement ceremony on May 30, 2021. This event will take the place of the ceremony originally scheduled for May 15, 2020, that was canceled due to public health concerns in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Spanish-speaking students and faculty at the School of Medicine have collaborated with community leaders to create and disseminate information in Spanish about the novel coronavirus for the St. Louis region’s Latino population.

If history is any indication, the economic fallout and increased political demands caused by the coronavirus could pressure government leaders into building a new safety net for lower income groups, suggests new research from Washington University in St. Louis.

While they can never replace the exhilaration of being in a cap and gown sitting in Brookings Quadrangle surrounded by friends, family and faculty, plans are in place at Washington University in St. Louis to recognize our graduates’ important milestone through online ceremonies and celebrations.

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine found that gene therapy in mice helped build strength and significant muscle mass quickly, while reducing the severity of osteoarthritis. The gene therapy also prevented obesity, even when the mice were fed a high-fat diet.

An interdisciplinary team at Washington University in St. Louis used computer modeling from different domains to look at how the United States might best lift quarantine — without a harsh blow to public health or the economy.