2021 Commencement

Commencement is an integral part of a meaningful academic journey for our students, families, and guests. This year it is complicated by the on-going challenges of COVID-19. After surveying students and gathering information on the preferred format and elements of Commencement, the Commencement Committee is pleased to announce tentative plans for the May 2021 Commencement.

As always, the University will continue to follow CDC and state and local guidelines. Current guidelines limit the size of large gatherings. If COVID-19 guidelines remain the same, we will have four separate in-person Commencement ceremonies during the weekend of May 8 and 9, with each graduate eligible to request tickets for two guests. If capacity allows, we hope to be able to expand ticket eligibility to four tickets per graduate, but will not know until after our RSVP process concludes in mid-April.

• Each ceremony will take place on Xavier’s campus in Cintas Center.
• We will have one ceremony for each of our four colleges:
  • Saturday, May 8 – Cintas Center
    • 9:00 a.m. – College of Arts and Sciences
    • 2:00 p.m. – College of Nursing
  • Sunday, May 9 – Cintas Center
    • 9:00 a.m. – College of Professional Sciences
    • 2:00 p.m. – Williams College of Business

In order to attend Commencement and be eligible for your allotted guest tickets, all graduates must have submitted their application for graduation and must RSVP no later the Monday, April 12 to the official Commencement RSVP. If you do not RSVP by Monday, April 12, you will not be permitted to walk or attend Commencement, nor will you be eligible for any guest tickets.

In order to safely accommodate our graduates and guests, Xavier team members are preparing the Cintas Center and will be utilizing our entire arena including the lower and upper sections. Most graduates will be seated on the arena floor. However, in order to comply with current CDC and State of Ohio requirements for social distancing, some graduates may be seated in the lower sections of the arena. Thus, student seating impacts total guest capacity. As we finalize our seating and ticketing plans, we will share more details.

All attendees will be asked to perform a health self-check prior to attending, properly wear a face mask at all times, and must agree to remain in their ticketed seat.

At this time, graduates can request two guest tickets for their Commencement ceremony. Graduates must have submitted their application for graduation and must RSVP to the official Commencement RSVP no later than Monday, April 12 in order to attend in-person and be eligible for tickets. Dual degree graduates may only attend one Commencement ceremony and will need to notify us on the Commencement RSVP.

Unfortunately, individual requests for additional tickets cannot be granted. Graduates will receive more information about the pick-up process for their guest tickets. The tickets will be provided directly to graduates in late April and early May. We will communicate these details by the week of April 19 to graduates who complete the Commencement RSVP by Monday, April 12.

Additional Details

• Graduate and undergraduate students from each college will attend the same ceremony.
• Each ceremony will be live-streamed for students who elect not to attend in person and for all family and friends.
• Some elements of the in-person ceremonies will be pre-recorded and streamed.
• Students who attend in person will have their name announced and will cross the stage with their diploma in a contactless manner.
• Graduates in fully-remote programs are welcome to attend in person.
• All graduates will receive their diplomas via mail in mid-summer (regardless of whether they attend in person).
• There are no separate hooding ceremonies for graduate students (graduates should bring their hoods and wear them during the ceremony).
• Ceremonies will follow all University COVID-related protocols:
  • All graduates and participants will wear masks
  • 6-feet distance

All other Commencement-related events will be virtual (receptions, honors activities, Baccalaureate Mass). To keep our graduates safe and to follow COVID-19 protocols, there will be no gatherings for graduates at or around Cintas or around campus.