Condoleezza Rice has decided not to deliver Rutgers University commencement address

Barchi said Saturday in a statement that Rutgers stands “fully behind the invitation” it issued to Rice. But he said school officials respect her decision.

“Now is the time to focus on our commencement, a day to celebrate the accomplishments and promising futures of our graduates,” Barchi said.

The university said it would provide details in the coming days on who would replace Rice as commencement speaker. She is now a professor of political science at Stanford University.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press