Miami University will celebrate the Class of 2021 and its 4,800 graduates during in-person commencement ceremonies at Yager Stadium (an outdoor venue), May 14-16, rain or shine. Miami is also holding an additional ceremony at 7 p.m. May 13 for its Class of 2020, whose in-person ceremony was canceled last year because of the pandemic. All ceremonies will be live-streamed for those unable to attend in person. 

In alignment with State of Ohio capacity guidelines, Miami will host nine ceremonies (eight divisional and one for the Class of 2020) in which President Gregory Crawford will address the graduates and their guests. Ceremonies will also incorporate remarks from 2021 Commencement speaker Dr. Carolyn Jefferson-Jenkins and allow graduates in attendance to be individually recognized as they walk across the commencement stage. 

Jefferson-Jenkins, a 1974 Western College for Women graduate, was elected as the 15th national president of the League of Women Voters in 1998, serving two terms and also chairing the League of Women Voters Education Fund.  She was the first woman of color to be elected president. 

Under her leadership, the league helped pass the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA), which closed the most significant loopholes in campaign finance regulation at the time. She also led a charge to focus on local elections while increasing the number of voters who participated in all elections.

Degrees to be awarded

Degrees to be awarded include 124 certificates, 91 associates, 3,918 bachelor’s, 646 master’s and 15 doctorates, for a total of 4,794.

Ceremony Logistics

To maintain social distancing and to meet capacity limits, each graduate is permitted to invite up to six guests to the ceremony. Guests will have assigned seats in “pods” that are socially distanced from other attendees. All participants, graduates, guests, and staff will be required to wear a face mask and maintain social distancing during the events. 

Ceremony Details

Thursday, May 13

• 7 p.m. Class of 2020

Friday, May 14

• 1:30 p.m. -  College of Creative Arts
• 7 p.m. - College of Liberal Arts and Applied Science (Miami Regionals)

Saturday, May 15

• 8 a.m. - College of Engineering and Computing
• 10 a.m. - Doctoral Hooding Ceremony (held at Armstrong Pavilion)
• 1:30 p.m. - College of Arts and Science 
• 7 p.m. - College of Arts and Science 

• 8 a.m. - College of Education, Health and Society
• 1:30 p.m. - Farmer School of Business
• 7 p.m. - Farmer School of Business