MTSU’s spring Class of 2022 readies for May 7 graduation in Murphy Center

A graduating MTSU student, surrounded by his classmates, acknowledges a supporter in the audience in Hale Arena inside Murphy Center during fall 2021 commencement ceremonies last December. The university will award degrees to more than 2,475 members of the first Class of 2022 on Saturday, May 7, during three ceremonies at its spring 2022 commencement event inside Murphy Center. (MTSU file photo by Andy Heidt)

Middle Tennessee State University’s 2,470-plus members of the first Class of 2022 and their supporters are preparing for a day full of celebration Saturday, May 7, at the university’s spring commencement in Murphy Center.

The day will be divided into three ceremonies to accommodate the 2,474 future MTSU alumni set to receive their degrees, a figure that includes 2,041 undergraduates and 433 graduate students, according to the university Registrar’s Office.

That second figure includes 389 master’s degree candidates, 25 education-specialist degree recipients and 19 doctoral candidates, along with 18 graduate students who’ll receive certificates for their advanced study.

New diploma covers are stacked neatly on the stage in Middle Tennessee State University’s Murphy Center, waiting to be presented to the last members of the Class of 2021 during fall 2021 commencement ceremonies last December. The university will award degrees to more than 2,475 members of the first Class of 2022 on Saturday, May 7, during three ceremonies at its spring 2022 commencement event inside Murphy Center. (MTSU file photo by J. Intintoli)

When the day is done, MTSU will have reached a new milestone: more than 175,000 degrees conferred since its 1911 founding.

As of last December, MTSU has awarded 173,348 degrees to its students, including associate, bachelor’s, master’s, educational specialist and doctoral degrees.

The May 7 ceremonies will put the total number of MTSU degrees earned at more than 175,820.

The Hon. Philip Edward Davis

Spring 2022 graduates from MTSU’s Jennings A. Jones College of Business, College of Education and the University College will be the first to celebrate their accomplishments May 7 with a ceremony beginning at 9 a.m. Central inside Murphy Center’s Hale/Earle Arena.

Offering congratulations and advice to the graduates at the morning ceremony will be guest speaker Philip Edward Davis, prime minister and minister of finance for the Bahamas.

member of MTSU’s Board of Trustees and executive vice president, chief administrative officer and chief risk officer of Bridgestone Americas Inc. (Photo by Sarah B. Gilliam)

Christine Karbowiak

Students in the College of Behavioral and Health Sciences and the College of Liberal Arts will receive their degrees in a 1:30 p.m. Central event.

MTSU Board of Trustees Vice Chair Christine Karbowiak, the retired vice chair, chief administrative officer, chief risk officer and executive vice president for Bridgestone Americas, will serve as guest speaker for the May 7 afternoon commencement event.

Dr. Tim Graeff

And at 6 p.m. May 7, MTSU will award diplomas to students in the College of Basic and Applied Sciences and the College of Media and Entertainment.

MTSU Department of Marketing professor Tim Graeff, recipient of the university’s 2021 Career Achievement Award and director of the MTSU Office of Consumer Research, is scheduled to address graduates at the evening ceremony.

During the May 7 morning ceremony, MTSU also will present honorary doctorates to guest speaker Davis and former Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam.

The three spring 2022 commencement ceremonies will include all master’s, education specialist, doctoral and undergraduate degree candidates from all MTSU’s colleges. Graduate degree recipients will participate with their academic college instead of a separate ceremony for the College of Graduate Studies.

A graduating senior at Middle Tennessee State University holds his new degree with pride during the university’s fall 2021 commencement ceremonies last December. The university will award degrees to more than 2,475 members of the first Class of 2022 on Saturday, May 7, during three ceremonies at its spring 2022 commencement event inside Murphy Center. (MTSU file photo by Andy Heidt)

Each of the May 7 ceremonies will be open to the public. MTSU no longer requires masks indoors, but they’re welcomed and encouraged for those who prefer to wear them, as is social distancing for health safety.

Ceremonies also available online, on TV

Friends, families and supporters who can’t attend in person can watch the ceremonies free and live at www.mtsu.edu/live and https://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 at the ceremonies.

MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee speaks at the university’s summer 2021 commencement ceremony in August in this file photo. (MTSU file photo by Andy Heidt)

Dr. Sidney A. McPhee

MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee will briefly address each group of graduates after welcoming them and their guests.

Each of the spring 2022 commencement ceremonies is expected to last about two hours. All graduating students must remain for their entire event.

The official spring 2022 commencement program, listing all the graduates by college as well as providing more details on the guest speakers, is available at https://bit.ly/MTSpring2022GradProgram.

A printable campus map with parking information is available at http://bit.ly/MTSUParking. A seating chart of Murphy Center, including access for guests who use wheelchairs or have other mobility issues, is available at http://ow.ly/TCkd30ld2PQ.

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

MTSU begins final examinations Friday, April 29; the exams conclude Thursday, May 5, with the official end of the spring semester. The summer 2022 semester at MTSU begins Monday, May 16.

For updates on MTSU anytime, visit https://mtsu.edu.

— Gina E. Fann (gina.fann@mtsu.edu)

A graduating senior at MTSU's fall 2021 commencement ceremonies proudly displays her accomplishment on her mortarboard as a first-generation college graduate Saturday, Dec. 11, inside Murphy Center. The university presented degrees to more than 1,670 students in three commencement events to conclude the fall semester. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

A graduating senior at Middle Tennessee State University’s fall 2021 commencement ceremonies proudly displays her accomplishment on her mortarboard as a first-generation college graduate last December. The university will award degrees to more than 2,475 members of the first Class of 2022 on Saturday, May 7, during three ceremonies at its spring 2022 commencement event inside Murphy Center. (MTSU file photo by J. Intintoli)

A graduating senior at MTSU's fall 2021 commencement ceremonies shouts with joy while she shows her new degree to supporters in the stands in Murphy Center Saturday, Dec. 11. The university presented degrees to more than 1,670 students in three commencement events to conclude the fall semester. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

A graduating senior at Middle Tennessee State University’s fall 2021 commencement ceremonies shouts with joy while she shows her new degree to supporters in the stands in Murphy Center last December. The university will award degrees to more than 2,475 members of the first Class of 2022 on Saturday, May 7, during three ceremonies at its spring 2022 commencement event inside Murphy Center. (MTSU file photo by J. Intintoli)