MTSU grads will gather Nov. 21 for 2020’s first in-person commencement

combined file images of MTSU scenes and events from the 2020, including photos of the Blue Raider bridge, masked students taking notes in class and registering to vote, Dr. McPhee speaking at a previous 2020 virtual commencement, the MTSU letters engraved into the base of Murphy Center and graduating seniors at an Alumni Association welcome event, all superimposed onto a file image of the Blue Horseshoe in Walnut Grove and the cover of the fall 2020 commencement program

MTSU‘s anticipated 1,701 fall graduates are counting on the weather’s cooperation on Saturday, Nov. 21, when the university has scheduled its first in-person commencement ceremony of 2020 in Floyd Stadium.

The prospective new alumni, who will celebrate with a limited number of friends and family in the stands, will be joined by about 397 of their fellow Class of 2020 members from May and August.

The previous Class of 2020 members received their degrees by mail after the ongoing pandemic forced MTSU to conduct its spring and summer commencement ceremonies online.

The December 2020 graduates will be recognized at ceremonies set for 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Central Nov. 21 in Floyd Stadium. May and August 2020 graduates will be recognized in a 5 p.m. ceremony.

A new MTSU graduate looks toward his supporters in the Murphy Center crowd after receiving his degree in this December 2019 file photo, during what became the university’s last in-person commencement ceremony before the pandemic hit. MTSU plans its first in-person 2020 commencement ceremonies this Saturday, Nov. 21, to celebrate the accomplishments of the December 2020 graduates. May and June 2020 graduates will also be honored in person during the day’s events. (MTSU file photo by Cat Curtis Murphy)

If inclement weather prevents the Nov. 21 ceremonies, MTSU will reschedule the events for the same times on Sunday, Nov. 22. A final decision will be announced no later than noon Friday, Nov. 20, if necessary.

The commencement events, during which students and their ticketed guests must wear masks and follow seating restrictions, won’t be open to the public.

All three ceremonies will be streamed free and live Nov. 21 at www.mtsu.edu/live and on MTSU’s Facebook page.

The university will provide closed-captioning services for the live video streams as well as a streaming transcript of the ceremonies on the stadium’s reader boards.

Dr. Mark Byrnes

Dr. Sidney A. McPhee

University President Sidney A. McPhee and Provost Mark Byrnes will speak to the graduates and their supporters at the ceremonies.

Each of the graduates will be shown at their seats on the Floyd Stadium Jumbotron when their names are called and their academic honors and other special recognition noted.

Students in MTSU’s College of Graduate Studies, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, the Jones College of Business and the College of Education will participate in the morning ceremony.

Students in the College of Behavioral and Health Sciences, College of Liberal Arts, College of Media and Entertainment and the University College will participate in the 1 p.m. ceremony.

The December graduating class comprises 1,487 undergraduates and 214 graduate students. The College of Graduate Studies plans to honor 194 master’s degree candidates, seven education-specialist degree recipients and 13 doctoral candidates and to present three graduate students with certificates for their advanced study.

MTSU’s May 2020 degree recipients numbered 2,519: 2,132 undergraduates and 387 graduate students. The 804 August MTSU grads included 577 undergrads and 227 graduate students.

An official program listing MTSU’s December 2020 graduates is available here. Programs for May and August 2020 are available at www.mtsu.edu/graduation.

Detailed information for Nov. 21 graduates and their guests also is available at www.mtsu.edu/graduation.

Updated MTSU graduation information — including links to the Registrar’s Office — also is available anytime at http://mtsunews.com/graduation-info.

Fall classes at MTSU end Wednesday, Nov. 25, and finals are scheduled online for Dec. 4-11. Graduates will receive their diplomas by mail in January.

MTSU will begin its spring 2021 semester on Monday, Jan. 25. The semester will once again be a mix of remote-learning, online, in-person and hybrid courses, and mask-wearing will remain mandatory in all indoor public settings.

For status updates on MTSU, visit http://mtsu.edu/coronavirus.

— Gina E. Fann (gina.fann@mtsu.edu)

A socially distanced crowd in MTSU’s Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium watches the Blue Raiders on Horace Jones Field during a break in play at the 2020 homecoming football game against Western Kentucky in this October file photo. The university will honor its Class of 2020 Saturday, Nov. 21, in MTSU’s first in-person commencement ceremonies this year, giving graduating students a chance to be recognized for their accomplishments. (MTSU file photo by Andy Heidt)

An excited MTSU graduate leaves the Murphy Center stage after receiving her degree in this December 2019 file photo, during what became the university’s last in-person commencement ceremony before the pandemic hit. MTSU plans its first in-person commencement ceremonies for 2020 this Saturday, Nov. 21, to celebrate the accomplishments of the December 2020 graduates. May and June 2020 graduates will also be honored in person during the day’s events. (MTSU file photo by Cat Curtis Murphy)