JEFFERSON CITY, MO -- Lincoln University students who are set to graduate in December will have to wait until next spring to walk across the stage.

Tuesday afternoon LU officials announced they suspended December commencement activities until further notice. Sandy Koetting, a controller at the university in Jefferson City, said it’s all about money.

“It was really just based on budget needs,” Koetting said.

She said expenses like security officers, an interpreter, programs, and chair rentals all add up to about $7,000 to $10,000. That’s how much LU expects to save by eliminating the winter graduation ceremony.

“It may be one year; it may be two years,” Koetting said in regards to how long this suspension may last.

The idea of getting rid of the winter ceremony came up during a Lincoln University community discussion on ways to save the school money. The budget committee recently OK’d the plan.

As for further helping the budget situation, Koetting said university officials are considering a couple scenarios depending on Governor Nixon’s budget decisions.

According to an emailed statement "students completing coursework during the summer or fall semesters will be expected to meet all filing, testing and other published deadlines to take part in May Commencement."

In a typical December commencement, there are 167 LU graduates. In May there are 257.

The spring commencement is scheduled for Saturday, May 11, 2013.