Traditional in-person ceremonies will be held Aug. 21-22
TAMPA, Fla. (June 17, 2021) – Thousands of University of South Florida graduates who were not able to walk across the commencement stage and celebrate the special moment with their families and friends because of the COVID-19 pandemic will now have that opportunity in August.
USF President Steve Currall announced today that those graduates will be invited back to participate in the university’s summer commencement ceremonies at the Yuengling Center on Aug. 21-22. Spring, summer and fall 2020 ceremonies were held virtually due to COVID-19 and spring 2021 ceremonies were modified to account for public safety, including restrictions on the ceremony format and limits on attendance to only two guests per person. All graduates from those classes are welcome to participate and there will be no limits on how many guests each student may bring.
“When the University of South Florida determined, based on health and safety protocols, that we would hold virtual commencements in 2020, we made a commitment to invite graduates back to an in-person ceremony when public health conditions allowed us to do so,” Currall said. “We are excited to welcome back our previous graduates and to honor them and their achievements.”
Ceremonies for summer 2021 graduates will be held at 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 21. Tentatively, USF plans to hold ceremonies for past graduates at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 21, and 9 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 22. The exact ceremony schedule for past graduates will be determined at a later date based on demand.
Advance registration through the USF commencement website is required for graduates to participate in the ceremonies.
###
About the University of South Florida
The University of South Florida is a high-impact global research university dedicated to student success. Over the past 10 years, no other public university in the country has risen faster in U.S. News and World Report’s national university rankings than USF. Serving more than 50,000 students on campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee, USF is designated as a Preeminent State Research University by the Florida Board of Governors, placing it in the most elite category among the state’s 12 public universities. USF has earned widespread national recognition for its success graduating under-represented minority and limited-income students at rates equal to or higher than white and higher income students. USF is a member of the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.