• Home
• 148th Commencement

148th Commencement

Commencement Event Timeline – May 7 and 8, 2021

Friday, May 7

Saturday, May 8

Degree Recipient Grad Walks (By Appointment Only)

Butcher Center Gymnasium

Frank Center Theater

Wellness Center Gymnasium

All participants will be required to sign-up in advance for the events on May 8. No tickets will be issued this year, but all guests’ names will be required to be provided when signing up for the specified commencement event. Only guests whose names are on the list will be permitted entry.

Face coverings* and social distancing will be required by all participants and their guests. Degree candidates will be required to wear caps and gowns to participate in all the events. Because of the limited number of guests allowed this year (for safety reasons), all events will be livestreamed for family and friends to view the proceedings.

*Compliant wearing of a Face Covering includes the following standards: i) Either cloth or medical Face Coverings may be used; ii) the Face Covering must provide continuous coverage of both the nose and mouth; iii) the Face Covering must be maintained in a reasonably hygienic condition.

Details by Group

Class of 2020 Make-up Graduate Walk for Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral Recipients

• Since speakers were recorded and shared last year, they will not be a part of the make-up celebration.
• Graduates will be sent a special link (from jflora@shepherd.edu) to their Shepherd email (or other email that was specified) on March 16, to sign up for an appointment timeslot and to provide the names of the four guests they will be bringing to the walk. Please indicate if any of your guests require special accommodations. Guests will be checked in at the entrances before the ceremony.
• Graduate walk appointments will begin at 1 pm. Graduates and their guests should arrive at the start of their appointment time.
• The graduate walk appointments will be in the Butcher Center.
• Graduates will need to dress in their regalia, including their hoods, to participate. No hooding will take place on stage due to social distancing requirements.
• Graduates will need to bring their diploma covers with them.
• Four family members will be allowed to escort their student in their graduate walk, hear their name called, and see them walk across the stage.
• There will be several photo opportunities with professional photographers, including a group photo of the family members with their student.
• Graduates and their families will receive a special gift and goodie bag provided by the Shepherd University Alumni Association.

Class of 2021 Undergraduate Candidates Convocation and Graduate Walks

• At 11 a.m., a baccalaureate convocation for undergraduate degree candidates ONLY will be held in the Butcher Center (no guests are permitted due to social distancing). Candidates will hear remarks from Shepherd’s president, guest speaker, and senior class president. Regalia is required to participate.
• Doors will open for seating at 10:30 a.m.
• Candidates will receive their diploma cover, which they will use for their graduate walk at the convocation, a special gift and a goodie bag for their families at the end of the convocation.
• Candidates will be sent a special link (from jflora@shepherd.edu) to their Shepherd email on March 16 to sign up for an appointment timeslot
• Graduate walk appointments will be separated by college across the Frank, Butcher, and Wellness Centers. (see list above)
• Candidates will need to dress in their regalia to participate in the graduate walks.
• Candidates will need to bring their diploma covers with them to their graduate walk.
• Four family members will be allowed to escort their student in their graduate walk, hear their name called, and see them walk across the stage.
• There will be several photo opportunities with professional photographers, including a group photo of the family members with their student.
• Upon being conferred, the graduate will pick up their diploma in the same building as their graduate walk. Graduates and their families will also receive a special gift and goodie bag provided by the Shepherd University Alumni Association.

Class of 2021 Master’s and Doctoral Recipient Commencement Ceremony

• Due to the smaller number of students receiving master’s and doctoral degrees, a socially distanced seated ceremony observing COVID-19 safety protocols will be held for Master’s and Doctoral graduate degree candidates at 9 a.m. in the Butcher Center Auditorium.
• Graduates will be sent a special link (from jflora@shepherd.edu) to their Shepherd email on March 16, to confirm their participation in the ceremony and to provide the names of the four guests they will be brining to the ceremony. Please indicate if any of your guests require special accommodations. Guests will be checked in at the entrances before the ceremony.
• Candidates will line-up beginning at 8:15 a.m. in the Butcher Center west corridor.
• Seating for guests will begin at 8 a.m.
• Candidates must wear their regalia, including their hood, to participate. There will be no hooding on stage due to social distancing requirements.
• Candidates will be conferred at the beginning of the ceremony and will then be seated to hear remarks from Shepherd’s president and guest speaker.
• Following the ceremony, the graduates will pick up their diploma in the Wellness Center. Graduates and their families will also receive a special gift and goodie bag provided by the Shepherd University Alumni Association.

_____________________________________________________________________

May 8 Commencement to feature in-person, socially distanced events

Shepherd University will be celebrating its 148th Commencement on Saturday, May 8, with in-person, socially distanced events that will allow a limited number of family members to see their graduate walk across the stage.

The plans include a baccalaureate convocation for undergraduate degree candidates to hear remarks by Shepherd’s president, guest speaker, and senior class president.

After the convocation, a series of graduate walks will occur for undergraduate candidates by college. Four family members will be allowed to escort their student to see them walk across the stage. There will be several photo opportunities with professional photographers, including a group photo of the family members with their student. 

Due to the smaller number of students receiving master’s and doctoral degrees, a socially distanced seated ceremony observing COVID-19 safety protocols will be held for those graduate degree candidates and limited guests. 

Also included in the day’s events will be a make-up graduate walk for last year’s graduating students whose commencement ceremony was forced to be virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

All participants will be required to sign-up in advance for the events that day. Masks and social distancing will be required by all participants and their guests. Degree candidates will be required to wear caps and gowns to participate in the events.

Because of the limited number of guests allowed this year (for safety reasons), all events will be livestreamed so family and friends can view the proceedings. 

Additional information will be posted on Shepherd’s website March 8. Degree recipients and their families will be able to view the schedule of events and registration instructions to help them plan their attendance.

Shepherd is in talks with local area high schools about using the university’s facilities for their own in-person ceremonies this year.