Update on Winter 2021 Commencement

Dear UMBC Community,

We are pleased to share that we will be able to offer limited in-person Winter 2021 commencement ceremonies in December. We appreciate the assistance of our public health experts, our colleagues in event planning, and our student government leaders who helped us plan an event that meets safety requirements and prioritizes the in-person experience of our graduates. 

Winter 2021 Commencement will include three ceremonies:

• Tuesday, December 21, 10 a.m.: Graduate Commencement;
• Wednesday, December 22, 10 a.m.: College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; School of Social Work; and Erickson School of Aging Studies Commencement; and
• Wednesday, December 22, 3 p.m.: College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, College of Engineering and Information Technology, and Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs Commencement.

Graduates will be able to attend in-person and will walk across the stage to receive acknowledgement of their achievement. All ceremonies will include masking and physical distancing. At this time, we intend to accommodate two guests per graduate. This is subject to change based upon the conditions and circumstances necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. We will also offer a virtual option for graduates and family members who cannot attend. We continue to work on making the virtual experience exciting and engaging and appreciate the support of our community in this effort. 

All graduates will be required to register for commencement no later than 5 p.m. on Sunday, November 28, 2021. We will be unable to accommodate late registrations. We will make a final determination on capacity and release family member tickets on Wednesday, December 1, 2021.

We will continue to evaluate our plans as we monitor the public health situation. Thank you for your support as we balance our desire to celebrate our graduates while ensuring the safety of our community. 

The Commencement Executive Committee