After consulting with many members of the college community — students, staff, and faculty — and colleagues from other colleges on the Twin Cities campus, we have decided that a virtual ceremony is the safest way to celebrate our 2021 graduates. The CEHD virtual commencement ceremony will be held on Friday, May 14, 2021 at 12 p.m. CDT. The ceremony will be two separate webpages for graduate and undergraduate students, both available beginning at 12 p.m. on May 14. In addition to speeches, there will be individual slides with your degree, program name, and options to upload a photo and/or include a celebratory message. Please upload your information to MarchingOrder, a graduation platform, by Wednesday, April 21, 2021.
Undergraduate students: Students with an Expected Graduation Term (EGT) of Fall 2020, Spring 2021 and Summer 2021 and those who graduated in Summer 2020.
Graduate Students: In order to be the most inclusive, we are inviting graduate students to this virtual commencement based on projected degree completion, so it's possible this celebration may not be applicable to your degree completion status. If you are not planning on graduating this term, please disregard the email(s) from MarchingOrder and no further action is required on your part. Note that all students who had degrees granted or plan to have degrees completed between June 1, 2020 - August 31, 2021 are being invited, and all students who were enrolled in the Summer 2020, Fall 2020, and Spring 2021 terms.
On May 3-5, 2021, CEHD is hosting optional in-person pick up of your diploma cover and graduation gift outside Burton Hall. You may choose your one hour time slot for these activities in MarchingOrder. Once you RSVP, you will receive an e-ticket with your chosen time slot later in April. There will also be a backdrop for taking a professional photo with the diploma cover and your cap and gown if you have them. You will be allowed to bring up to two guests with you for these activities. Note that these are optional, and you may opt to have your diploma cover and gift sent to you. Any in-person activity will be dependent on current guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health and weather conditions. More details are on the frequently asked questions page.
Undergraduate students: Apply to be the virtual undergraduate student speaker. The application asks you for a draft of your speech (no more than 500 words). The deadline to apply is Wednesday, April 14, 2021.
Regalia: Purchase your regalia online. Regalia is optional.
If your participation in commencement would not be possible without financial assistance, consider applying for a commencement scholarship. Limited funds are available, and scholarships will be given based on financial need, the amount of scholarship funds available, and the reasons you provide for needing assistance. Complete the application by Wednesday, April 14, 2021.
Share a celebratory video or image with the CEHD community! We are encouraging you to submit a short video or image of yourself. These may be shared on social media and/or in a video montage during virtual commencement. The deadline is Tuesday, April 27, 2021.
The U of M Alumni Association is hosting a Graduation Photo Op May 3-17 at Gateway Plaza on the South side of McNamara Alumni Center. They also have a virtual photo booth. Upload a photo of yourself and place yourself in a campus background. Share your photos at #CEHD2021, #UMN21, #UMNProud, and #UMNAlumni. Find out more ways to engage with UMAA.
This page will continue to be updated throughout the remainder of the semester. If you have further questions about commencement, please email cehd@umn.edu.