In 59 days, most of Auburn's class of spring 2021 will receive their degrees in Jordan-Hare Stadium much like the class of 2020. The University released its schedule for spring 2021 commencement on Tuesday morning with ceremonies planned for April 30, May 1 and May 3.
Following the style of commencement last year, the University has opted to hold individual ceremonies for colleges and schools as opposed to the traditional large-scale events.
Spring 2021 commencement will begin at 5:30 p.m. on April 30 in Jordan-Hare Stadium with an address from Kenneth Kelly, a 1990 Auburn graduate in electrical engineering. Kelly is the CEO of First Independence Bank in Detroit, Michigan, the seventh-largest Black-controlled bank in the U.S. Kelly is also chair of the Auburn Alumni Engineering Council and is the first Black alumnus in the position.
“A noted industry leader, Kelly just completed a three-year term on the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago's Community Depository Institutions Committee,” the University said in a press release. “He also serves on the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or FDIC, Chairman’s Community Bank Advisory Committee, and is a board of director of the American Banker’s Association.”
Following Kelly's address, the University will recognize spring marshals and confer degrees to master's and doctoral graduates in the Graduate School. The evening ceremony will last until 8 p.m., and guests are asked to physically distance in the stand in accordance with COVID-19 safety guidelines. Only graduates and some guests will be allowed to walk on Pat Dye Field.
Undergraduates will be honored and awarded their degrees in the May 1 event, scheduled for 8 a.m.-4 p.m. in the stadium. Ceremonies will be held for ten colleges over the course of the day, beginning with the college of education and ending with the college of engineering at 2:20 p.m. Each college will open with a speech from its dean before conferring degrees to graduates. The full May 1 schedule may be viewed below.
Times for the May 1 ceremonies are subject to change, the University said.
“Commencement is an important event for our students and their families, as well as our campus community,” said Auburn University President Jay Gogue. “We have worked closely with University and public health officials to develop plans that will allow us to safely hold our ceremonies for our graduates and their families.”
Graduates will be given a personalized name card and allowed a photo with Aubie when they arrive. The University will also provide graduates a photo opportunity to receive where they pose in the stadium as their name is displayed on the videoboard, as well as a copy of the Auburn Creed.
“Graduates must enter the stadium through Gate 10 no later than 20 minutes before their scheduled ceremony time,” the University said. “Guests should enter the stadium through Gates 5-8 and may sit in sections 24–34 to allow for physical distancing. Hand sanitizer will be available and easily accessible to all students and guests.”
The University said it has prepared contingency plans should inclement weather disrupt commencement, with Auburn Arena to be used as a backup location if necessary with guests only allowed to watch a livestream of the event.
“All ceremonies will be livestreamed on the commencement website for those unable to attend or who have health concerns,” the University said.
Auburn Arena will be used in place of Jordan-Hare Stadium for the May 3 event, where the University will award degrees to graduates in the Harrison School of Pharmacy and in the college of veterinary medicine. Pharmacy graduates will participate in commencement at 1 p.m., while veterinary medicine graduates will participate at 6 p.m.
Graduates in all three events are required to wear regalia purchased from the Auburn University Bookstore. Regalia ordered by April 9 may be picked up at the store during the week of April 26-30, according to the University.
Those with questions about commencement are asked to email commencement@auburn.edu.
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Tim Nail, junior in journalism, is the campus editor for The Auburn Plainsman.
