Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021
Dear UNT faculty and staff,
Commencement is a culminating college experience for our students, and we are excited to honor the Class of 2021's achievements on April 30 and May 1 during in-person commencement ceremonies at Apogee Stadium and virtual College Recognition Ceremonies online. We also are excited to celebrate the Spring and Summer 2020 graduates on April 29 for in-person commencement at Apogee Stadium. If you're still in touch with any former students who graduated in May 2020 or August 2020, we'd like them to know that their wait is over because they are invited too! We'll reach out to them via the Alumni Association soon, so they should update their contact information to ensure they receive their invitation.
Our socially distanced Apogee Stadium commencement ceremonies will include remarks from the administration and the ceremonial conferral of undergraduate, master's and doctoral degrees. While graduates will not cross a stage, the ceremony will be an opportunity for the UNT family to celebrate our graduates' tremendous accomplishments and perseverance. Our priority is to allow each graduate and their guests a safe opportunity to celebrate while adhering to current health guidelines and stadium capacity requirements. As in the fall, this means tickets will not be available for faculty and staff. The commencement website includes information about the ceremonies, purchasing regalia, and a preliminary schedule of events. Please note all schedules are subject to change based on RSVP quantities, the status of the pandemic and inclement weather on ceremony days.
Individual recognition for Spring 2021 graduates will take place during virtual College Recognition Ceremonies premiering on UNT's YouTube channel. Each graduate's name will be announced and displayed, along with degree granted, Latin Honors and major professor, when applicable.
Meeting graduation application deadlines is more important than ever. Students who apply or are approved after the deadlines will not have their names included in the College Recognition Ceremonies or commencement program. Please remind students intending to graduate this semester to follow instructions outlined by the Office of the Registrar. Future communications regarding Spring 2021 commencement ceremonies - including instructions to RSVP, claim graduate and guest tickets, and submit phonetic name pronunciation - will be sent directly to graduation candidates via their official UNT email accounts.
The last year has been especially challenging for everyone, especially our students. Let's continue to cheer them on as they inch closer to graduation, whether it is this semester or in the future.
UNT Proud,
Neal Smatresk
UNT President