Annual Homecoming Weekend Postponed Till Spring 2021 at VSU

VALDOSTA — Due to the ongoing global pandemic, Valdosta State University has decided to postpone Homecoming Weekend 2020 till Spring Semester 2021. Additional information will be provided in the coming months.

Homecoming Weekend 2020 was originally scheduled for Oct. 16-17.

Homecoming Weekend at VSU traditionally includes an alumni golf tournament and distinguished alumni dinner on Friday followed by a parade, tailgate, and football game on Saturday.

Dr. Vince Miller, vice president of Student Affairs at VSU, said that the decision to postpone Homecoming Weekend 2020 was a difficult one.

“Every decision we have made throughout this global pandemic, including the postponement of Homecoming, has been out of an abundance of caution for the health and safety of every member of our Blazer Nation family,” he said. “Homecoming is one of our most cherished traditions at VSU, and I look forward to the day we can once again welcome our alumni back to campus and celebrate all that is special about being a VSU Blazer.”

As the global pandemic continues to impact Valdosta-Lowndes County and the rest of the world, VSU has been forced to implement a variety of measures and protocols — as guided by the Georgia Department of Public Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the University System of Georgia — to help limit the spread of COVID-19 on campus and within neighboring communities. This includes mandating all students, faculty, staff, and visitors wear masks covering their nose and mouth at all times while inside campus facilities and outdoors when social distancing is not possible.

The VSU Blazers were originally scheduled to play the Delta State University Statesmen during Homecoming Weekend 2020. However, due to COVID-19’s ongoing impact across the country, the Gulf South Conference decided to postpone all competition in a number of sports, including football, until at least Jan. 1, 2021.

Regarding VSU’s commitment to recognize Spring 2020 graduates on campus, Miller said the university has every intention of celebrating with these students “on a future date when it is safe and appropriate to do so.” The global pandemic forced VSU to host its 229^th Commencement on a virtual stage in early May. At that time university officials hoped to be able to honor those graduates during homecoming festivities.