The day after spring break ended, all remaining doctoral defense meetings were moved online. “Throwing in a monkey wrench like this at the last minute was difficult for these students,” González said. We have never had one semester in our 50 years of history without at least one PhD student graduating. “Many people normally wouldn’t have the time or opportunity to drive to campus to hear a student’s defense. “We have never had one semester in our 50 years of history without at least one PhD student graduating.