Michigan State University is planning more than 50 limited-attendance outdoor graduation ceremonies to recognize the accomplishments of the spring 2021 graduating class. Unlike previous years, a university-wide convocation will not be held.
Advanced degree ceremonies for master's and doctoral degree recipients will be held virtually and streamed on the MSU commencement website. The College of Engineering has 38 master's and 35 Ph.D. graduates this spring.
For undergraduates in the College of Engineering, there will be five in-person ceremonies on Sunday, May 2. Around 745 undergraduates will be honored. Visitor information is available here.
Engineering graduations on Sunday, May 2:
- 8 a.m., Computer Science, Breslin Center Parking Lot
- 11 a.m., Mechanical Engineering, Breslin Center Parking Lot
- 2 p.m., Chemical Engineering, Materials Science Engineering and Biosystems Engineering, Breslin Center Parking Lot
- 3:30 p.m., Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering, Auditorium Parking Lot
- 5 p.m., Applied Engineering Sciences, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Breslin Center Parking Lot
Engineering Commencement Coordinator Amanda Idema, who is assistant dean for undergraduate studies, noted the May 2 event is for spring 2021 graduates only.
"We'll be celebrating almost 750 undergraduates during the five ceremonies," she said. "Graduates are limited to two guests. Both graduates and guests will get tickets. Our plan is to live stream the ceremonies so other friends/family can watch in real time. And it will be recorded for future viewing," she added.
Idema noted that the undergraduate commencement speaker is Heidi Theisen, a senior in mechanical engineering with concentrations in aerospace and energy and also has a minor in computer science. Theisen will speak live at the 11 a.m. ceremony. Additionally, her speech will be recorded and played at the other four graduation ceremonies.
After graduation, Theisen will be pursuing her master's degree in aeronautics and astronautics engineering. She will return to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston this summer as a Graduate Pathways intern in the Spacesuit and Crew Survival Systems branch. She previously served at NASA as an undergraduate intern.
MSU Provost Teresa K. Woodruff, Ph.D., said graduation is a time-honored academic transition from learning to the world. "We have resourced every part of our campus community in support of this effort and are confident in our collective abilities to persevere in commending this group of scholars."
The university based its approach to in-person graduation on the most recent local health and safety guidelines and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services orders. All undergraduate ceremonies will take place at large parking lots on campus to allow for appropriate physical distancing.
To accommodate current attendance restrictions on outdoor gatherings, each graduate is permitted up to two guests. Given the limited number of people able to safely gather, even outside, the spaces cannot accommodate 2020 graduates, who had no options to attend in-person ceremonies last year. The university will offer those graduates opportunities at a future date.
As outlined in the MSU Community Compact, graduates and guests are required to wear appropriate face coverings at all times when on MSU property.
More details are available on the MSU Commencement website.