Graduating Middle Tennessee State University students will once again be back inside Murphy Center to savor their accomplishments on Saturday, Dec. 11, when the university marks its fall — and final — commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2021.

The day will be divided into three separate events to accommodate the 1,672 future MTSU alumni set to receive their degrees, a figure that includes 1,373 undergraduates and 299 graduate students, according to the university Registrar’s Office.

That second figure includes 271 master’s degree candidates, 13 education-specialist degree recipients and 15 doctoral candidates, along with 10 graduate students who’ll receive certificates for their advanced study.

Two undergraduate students also are scheduled to receive a certificate.

A stack of MTSU diploma covers awaits graduates who’ll cross the stage inside Murphy Center Saturday, Dec. 11, for Middle Tennessee State University’s fall 2021 commencement in this file photo. More than 1,600 new graduates are expected to receive their degrees in three ceremonies during the day. (MTSU file photo by Andy Heidt)

Students from MTSU’s College of Graduate Studies and College of Behavioral and Health Sciences will be the first to celebrate their accomplishments with a ceremony beginning at 9 a.m. Central.

Students in the College of Basic and Applied Sciences and Jennings A. Jones College of Business will receive their degrees in a 1 p.m. Central event.

And at 5 p.m. Dec. 11, MTSU will award diplomas to undergraduates in the College of Education, College of Liberal Arts, the College of Media and Entertainment and University College.

A group of MTSU graduating seniors show off tasty MTSU alumni-decorated cookies in Phillips Bookstore inside the Student Union Friday, Dec. 3, during the university’s Senior Celebration. From left are physiology majors Sara Yosef and Martha Gatas, both of Antioch, Tenn.; Mariam Armanious of Mt. Juliet, Tenn., and Dena Fawzi of Nashville. They’re being helped by junior psychology major Jordan Anderson, right, a bookstore employee. Students graduating Saturday, Dec. 11, in MTSU’s fall 2021 commencement ceremonies were able to pick up regalia and learn about the university’s Senior Gift Program for scholarships and other development needs, alumni services and career development. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

Each of the ceremonies will be open to the public. MTSU is no longer requiring masks indoors, but they’re welcomed and encouraged for those who prefer to wear them, as is social distancing for health safety.

Friends, families and supporters who can’t attend in person can watch the ceremony free and live at www.mtsu.edu/live and http://facebook.com/mtsublueraiders. Online commencement coverage will begin about 15 minutes before each ceremony starts.

The events also will be broadcast on MTSU’s True Blue TV station on local cable channels and at https://mtsu.edu/TrueBlueTV.

The university will provide closed-captioning services for the live video streams as well as American Sign Language interpretation on-site, with the help of longtime interpreter Jaclyn Kollar of the Bridges for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing nonprofit organization, at the ceremonies.

MTSU graduating senior Chad Dunbar, right, a professional pilot major from Appleton, N.Y., accepts his cap and gown from Melisa Warner, assistant manager of Phillips Bookstore, Friday, Dec. 3, during the university’s Senior Celebration in the Student Union store. Students graduating Saturday, Dec. 11, in MTSU’s fall 2021 commencement ceremonies were able to pick up regalia and learn about the university’s Senior Gift Program for scholarships and other development needs, alumni services and career development. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

MTSU’s spring 2021 commencement, a three-day, 10-ceremony weekend event, was the first in Murphy Center for nearly a year in the wake of the pandemic.

The university conducted virtual commencements in spring and summer 2020, then held the fall 2020 graduation outdoors in Floyd Stadium on a surprisingly perfect late November day.

The spring 2021 events had no outside speakers, and MTSU deans spoke directly to their college’s graduates in smaller, safer gatherings. The summer graduation, which traditionally welcomes the departing MTSU Faculty Senate president as speaker, continued that tradition.

Dr. Sidney A. McPhee

This fall, MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee will serve as speaker for each ceremony, addressing each group of graduates after welcoming them and their guests.

Each of the fall 2021 commencement ceremonies is expected to last about two hours. All graduating students must remain for their entire event.

The official fall 2021 commencement program, listing all the graduates by college and noting their honors, is available at http://bit.ly/MTSUFall2021GradProgram.

Since its 1911 inception, MTSU has awarded 171,770 degrees to its students, including associate, bachelor’s, master’s, educational specialist and doctoral degrees.

A printable campus map with parking details is available here, and a seating chart of Murphy Center, including access for guests who use wheelchairs or have other mobility issues, is available here.

Driving directions, along with graduation details for students and guests, are available anytime at https://mtsu.edu/graduation and https://mtsunews.com/graduation-info.

MTSU began final examinations Dec. 3, and they conclude Thursday, Dec. 9, with the official end of the semester. The university will be closed for winter break Dec. 23-31, and offices will reopen for the new year on Monday, Jan. 3.

The spring 2022 semester at MTSU begins Tuesday, Jan. 18. For status updates on MTSU anytime, visit https://mtsu.edu/coronavirus.

— Gina E. Fann (gina.fann@mtsu.edu)

MTSU graduating senior Dylan Bush of Antioch, Tenn., left, who’s majoring in the Leisure, Sport and Tourism Management Program, listens carefully to MTSU Career Development Center clerk Amy Medlin, right, as fellow senior and exercise science major Kendall Matchinske of Gallatin, Tenn., center left, helps Jeanette Stevens, an adviser in the Career Development Center, pack up his bag of senior items Friday, Dec. 3, during the university’s Senior Celebration in Phillips Bookstore inside the Student Union. Students graduating Saturday, Dec. 11, in MTSU’s fall 2021 commencement ceremonies were able to pick up regalia and learn about the university’s Senior Gift Program for scholarships and other development needs, alumni services and career development. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

Members of MTSU’s August Class of 2021 applaud their success after they “turn the tassels” on their mortarboards to signify their graduation during the university’s summer 2021 commencement ceremony. MTSU expects to present degrees to 1,672 members of the last Class of 2021 at its fall 2021 commencement ceremonies on Saturday, Dec. 11. (MTSU file photo by Andy Heidt)