In addition to the students who plan to graduate this spring, OU will welcome back members of the Class of 2020 – whose graduations were celebrated virtually due to COVID-19 – to participate in the May in-person graduation ceremonies.
“In the face of the countless challenges of the last year, our students have displayed remarkable fortitude and compassion, perfectly emblematic of the OU spirit,” said OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. “Their resilience in the midst of a global pandemic is nothing short of extraordinary, and we are thrilled that we can offer our Classes of 2020 and 2021 a memorable graduation experience on campus that they most assuredly deserve.”
Six ceremonies for OU’s Norman campus degree-granting colleges will be held in The Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium from Friday, May 14, 2021, to Monday, May 17, 2021. Each college has been assigned to a specific ceremony for space accommodation. Due to COVID-19 capacity limitations, a university-wide Commencement will not take place this year.
Friday, May 14, 2021 – 7 p.m.
Norman Campus Doctoral Candidates
Saturday, May 15, 2021 – 8 a.m.
Michael F. Price College of Business
College of Professional and Continuing Studies
College of Arts and Sciences (Master’s Students)
Saturday, May 15, 2021 – 6:30 p.m.
College of Arts and Sciences (Undergraduate Students)
Sunday, May 16, 2021 – 8 a.m.
Gallogly College of Engineering
Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture
Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy
College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences
Sunday, May 16, 2021 – 6:30 p.m.
Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication
Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts
Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education
David L. Boren College of International Studies
Monday, May 17, 2021 – 6:30 p.m.
College of Law (J.D. and M.L.S. Students)
All ceremonies will be livestreamed for those who are unable to attend. Graduation plans for the OU Health Sciences Center and OU-Tulsa will be released soon, and students will be notified of their college’s graduation plans by their respective campus.
Under the guidance of University Chief COVID Officer Dr. Dale Bratzler, various safety measures will be incorporated into the ceremonies, including physical distancing of graduates and guests. Face masks will be required, and the university will provide masks for those who do not bring their own. All graduates and guests must register in advance to attend. Registration information will be sent to graduates later this month. OU is implementing as many touchless options as possible into the events, such as digital ticketing and providing a digital graduation program.
“The university is taking great care to host these ceremonies in the safest possible environment,” Bratzler said. “Numerous measures will be in place to protect the well-being of those who attend, such as mask-wearing and social distancing. We are also confident that as more people receive the COVID-19 vaccine, cases will decrease to a lower level in the coming months.”
In the event of inclement weather, the university’s first option will be to delay the ceremony to later the same day. If that is not possible, OU will hold a graduate-only ceremony in the Lloyd Noble Center, which would be livestreamed for guests to view.
For the latest information on OU’s May graduation ceremonies, visit ou.edu/commencement or email commencement@ou.edu.
