Dear Graduates,
We are so excited to share the details for all of our Commencement events for this semester for the Spring 2021 grads and for the 2020 grads.
Commencement Caravan
The Commencement Caravan will take place on Tuesday, March 30th and Wednesday, March 31st from 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. The Caravan will take place between the Blue and Gold garages. During the caravan portion, you will get the opportunity to get out of your car once instructed to do so, walk across a mini-stage, and get a congratulatory diploma from Roary. You will also have the opportunity to take a physically distant photo with President Rosenberg and Roary. Please note, this is the only event where you will have a photo opportunity with the President. Registration is NOT required for this event.
The Commencement Fair will take place in Lot 3 where you will have the opportunity to purchase your cap & gown, class ring, and other memorabilia. Make sure to decorate your vehicles and show your Panther Pride! There will be prizes for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners of the car decorating competition! It is extremely important that you keep your mask on at all times and follow the directions of all the staff members at the event. The only time you’ll be able to remove your mask is if you’re taking the complimentary portrait photo in the GradImages booth at the Commencement Fair.
While regalia is not required for the caravan, we highly encourage it. More details will be sent out in regards to the Caravan, next week.
Grad Walk
This Spring, for the first time, we will host Grad Walk, which gives you an opportunity to take a photo on stage while wearing their regalia as two guests cheer you on. Grad Walk will take place on Saturday, April 17th from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday, April 18th from 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. at the Graham Center lobby and pit. You will have the opportunity to pose for 3 different photo opportunities with different backdrops and including 1 photo opportunity with your two guests.
Registration is required for this event. You may register for a timeslot using this link: go.fiu.edu/SpringGradWalk. Regalia is also required for this event. Only two guests per graduate will be allowed.
A map for this event will be sent out in the coming days
Commencement
Our Spring Commencement Ceremonies will take place outdoors at the Riccardo Silva Stadium on our MMC campus on Saturday, April 24th and Sunday, April 25th. Please note, Ceremony 1 which will take place on Saturday, April 24th at 9:30 a.m. will be for Graduate Degree students ONLY to include PhD, EdD, MD, and all Masters graduates. All other ceremonies will be for undergraduates ONLY. The system to register for your ceremony and obtain your 3 complimentary guest tickets, is set to open on Wednesday, March 24 at 12 midnight and is set to close on Wednesday, March 31 at 11:59 p.m. NO additional guest tickets will be distributed as we have a strict capacity limit in respect of CDC guidelines.
It is important to note that all registrations and ticket transactions are FINAL. Ceremony transfers will NOT be allowed.
Saturday, April 24
9:30 a.m. (Graduate Ceremony ONLY) SOLD OUT
2:00 p.m. (Undergraduate Ceremony ONLY) SOLD OUT
6:30 p.m. (Undergraduate Ceremony ONLY) SOLD OUT
Sunday, April 25
9:30 a.m. (Undergraduate Ceremony ONLY) SOLD OUT
2:00 p.m. (Undergraduate & Graduate Ceremony) SOLD OUT
6:30 p.m. (Undergraduate & Graduate Ceremony)
When the system opens, all Saturday timeslots will be open. The first time slot (9:30 a.m.) will ONLY be for graduate degree students. There will be a 2:00 p.m. and a 6:30 p.m. timeslot that will open up for April 24th. Once those ceremonies are at capacity (1,000 graduates per ceremony), we will proceed with opening additional timeslots for Sunday, April 25th, one at a time, based on demand (9:30 a.m., 2:00 p.m., and 6:30 p.m.). Please note, there is no one specific ceremony for your college. All ceremonies will be mixed.
Additionally, please note due to Covid restrictions, the program has been significantly modified for safety reasons. Graduates will be seated first-come, first-served, as they arrive. All graduates will have the opportunity to walk across the stage as their name is called, but there will be no stopping, no handshaking, no hooding, and no photo-op on stage. Furthermore, in the event of inclement weather during the ceremony, the President will make the decision to stop the ceremony, ask all graduates to rise for the final conferral of degrees, and then all attendees are to exit the field and/or stands.
Because we will be hosting our ceremony on the football field, absolutely NO heels will be permitted (only wedges). You will not be allowed on the field if you are wearing heels. No food or drinks will be allowed on the field as well with the exception of bottled water.
We will be sending out the ticket system link prior to opening.
All commencement events will adhere to the Panthers Protecting Panthers plan to ensure everyone’s health and safety. This means everyone attending must wear a face covering, stay physically distanced and wash hands often or use hand sanitizer. Everyone attending is strongly encouraged to use the P3 app.
Please see the Spring 2021 Commencement document explaining all of the Commencement events for this semester.
We look forward to celebrating you at all of our Commencement Events this semester!
Regards,
The Commencement Team