Degree candidates, get your caps and gowns ready – New Mexico State University will hold limited in-person commencement events in May for its Spring 2021 graduates, in addition to its previously planned virtual ceremony.
The commencement events for Las Cruces campus graduates will take place at Aggie Memorial Stadium, in multiple sessions to accommodate the need for social distancing and limited capacity. The first ceremony, for graduate students, will include a doctoral hooding ceremony and will take place at 7 p.m. Friday, May 14. The second ceremony, for undergraduates, will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 15. Commencement activities for NMSU’s branch campuses will be determined by those campuses.
The announcement follows discussions and guidance from the New Mexico Department of Health and the New Mexico Higher Education Department.
“We know how much our students want an opportunity to celebrate together as they reach the life-changing milestone of completing their degrees,” said NMSU President John Floros. “We’re grateful to these state agencies for understanding the significance of this event for our graduates and their families. Our commencement team is now hard at work planning an event that will allow us to celebrate together safely.”
As previously announced, NMSU will hold a virtual commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. on May 15 for all Spring 2021 graduates, so that students can remotely share this important moment with family, friends, and the academic community. Each graduate will have the opportunity to be recognized with a graduation photo and personal message that can be downloaded and shared on social media after the event. The virtual celebration will take place regardless of other plans for an in-person event.
Tickets will be required for the in-person commencement, and each student may have two guests in attendance. Masks will be required for all graduates, volunteers, and guests. Commencement activities at Aggie Memorial Stadium will be broadcast so that graduates and their families who are not able to attend can watch the in-person celebration as well as the virtual ceremony.
Many details about the in-person event are being rapidly finalized. Additional information will be announced as it becomes available. The university is also planning a special event later this year for 2020 graduates who are interested in an in-person celebration, and will share more about those plans as they take shape.
For more information about both virtual and in-person commencement events, visit commencement.nmsu.edu.
Information from NMSU