Michigan State University will hold special, in-person commencement ceremonies this September for 2020 graduates whose graduation events were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, there were 13,852 total MSU graduates across the spring, summer and fall semesters.
“We promised these graduates an in-person celebration and are proud of the contributions from faculty and staff across the university to make this a reality,” said MSU Provost Teresa K. Woodruff, Ph.D. “The 2020 and 2021 classes persevered through a time of unprecedented challenge. These celebrations are as much about these graduates’ fortitude and resilience as their academic accomplishments.”
All degree level graduates from 2020, as well as spring 2021 master’s, educational specialist and doctoral graduates, will be invited to ceremonies on Sept. 17-20. All degree-level graduates from the summer 2021 semesters will be given the option to attend in September or participate in the fall 2021 ceremonies in December.
“Last year, we were all incredibly disappointed to not be able to celebrate together in person the incredible graduates. While we did present virtual options, we realize it was difficult for many of the graduates and their families to not gather together in person,” said MSU President Samuel L. Stanley, Jr., M.D. “We are proud of each and every Spartan graduate and look forward to the positive impacts they will make with their outstanding MSU education.”
All the ceremonies will take place at the Jack Breslin Student Events Center, 534 Birch Road in East Lansing. Commencement ceremonies will be live-streamed and can be watched via MSU’s commencement website. Additional details will be shared closer to the events.