Class of 2021
Transylvania University looks forward to celebrating our Class of 2021 with in-person ceremonies that meet state public health guidelines and provide a safe environment for our graduates and guests.
On Saturday, May 29, Transylvania will host two commencement ceremonies on Old Morrison lawn. Students in the Fine Arts, Humanities and Natural Sciences and Mathematics divisions will participate in an 8:30 a.m. ceremony. Students in the Social Sciences division will participate in an 11 a.m. ceremony. Those with double majors that fall into both ceremonies will be asked to select a ceremony. Graduates must notify the Registrar’s Office if they will not participate in the ceremony.
For planning purposes only and to ensure appropriate physical distancing at each ceremony, graduates will each receive four (4) general admission guest tickets for the outdoor ceremony. Should the ceremony be moved inside due to rain, each graduate will have two (2) general admission rain tickets to distribute to guests. Moving the ceremony inside will be necessary only if there is inclement weather on the ceremony day; that decision will be made on the morning of the ceremony. Graduates may pick up both sets of guest tickets at the Senior Send-Off event (details below).
The Commencement ceremony will be streamed live for family and friends to watch from home. In addition, a recording of each ceremony will be posted for people to watch at their leisure.
In order to comply with public health guidance and to protect the health and safety of all in attendance, we ask that all Commencement ceremony attendees follow these Healthy at Transy protocols:
- Attendees are encouraged to be masked when on campus, especially if they have not received a COVID-19 vaccine. This includes graduates and all guests. Those not comfortable at a large event should enjoy the live-stream or recorded versions of the ceremony from the comfort of their home.
- All attendees must follow physical distancing guidelines on campus. This includes not moving ceremony chairs and keeping appropriate distance between themselves and others not in their household.
A graduate directory will be available for seniors to upload a photo of themselves and a message they wish to share with their fellow graduates. More details on how to participate will be sent via email directly to each graduating student. Transylvania University held a virtual commencement celebration for the Class of 2020. To view the celebration and for details about how we will recognize the Class of 2020 at an in-person event on Saturday, May 22, 2021, please visit the Class of 2020 Commencement webpage.
Class of 2021 Graduate Directory
Senior Week Events
The format of these events is subject to change. More information will be shared with students via email and posted here as we get closer to Senior Week.
Tuesday, May 25, 2021
Senior Send-Off
11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Alumni Plaza (rain location: Campus Center)
Join us as we celebrate you, our 2021 Senior Class! Lunch will be served by Bon Appetit and seniors can pick up their cap and gown and their commencement guest tickets. There will also be treats, valuable information, music, and fun!
Senior Challenge
6 – 10 p.m.
Senior Challenge will host a night at the Distillery District! We have the Goodfellas patio to ourselves from 6 – 8 p.m. and are providing bus transportation. The first pickup from Transy will be at 5:40 p.m. and the last departure from the Distillery District will be at 10 p.m. so students will have plenty of time to explore the other restaurants and bars. Sign up for a bus time and make plans to grab pizza, drinks, and ice cream with your classmates! Please note, Senior Challenge will provide pizza but all other drinks or treats will need to be purchased by the students.
Thursday, May 27, 2021
Senior Toast
3-5 p.m.
Alumni Plaza (rain location: Haggin Auditorium)
Masks encouraged
Open to graduating seniors only
Friday, May 28, 2021
Last Lecture
3-4 p.m.
Professor Simonetta Cochis
Haggin Auditorium
Masks required
Open to graduating seniors only; livestream available on YouTube and the recording will be posted following.
Senior Awards
4:15-5 p.m.
Haggin Auditorium
Masks required
Open to award recipients and their guests only; livestream available on YouTube and the recording will be posted following.
Saturday, May 29, 2021
Commencement Celebrations
8:30 – 9:30 a.m. – Fine Arts, Humanities and Natural Sciences and Mathematics divisions (student speaker: Eileen Bunch)
11 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Social Sciences division (student speaker: Savannah Lambert)
Old Morrison Lawn
Guest tickets required (all tickets are general admission)
Rain location: Haggin Auditorium (masks and rain tickets required)
Class of 2021 Commencement Photos – 8:30 am ceremony
Class of 2021 Commencement Photos – 11:00 am ceremony
Not Attending Commencement?
Let us know in if you are not attending commencement. Your name will still be announced during the ceremony and your diploma will be available after Commencement. Please contact the Registrar’s Office to arrange to pick it up or have it mailed to you.
Ceremony Livestream and Recording
A livestream of each ceremony will be available above – these links will be active the morning of the ceremonies. We will also post a recording of each ceremony above following the ceremonies.
Guest Tickets
Seniors can pick up their four (4) guest tickets and two (2) rain tickets starting on Tuesday, May 25, at the Senior Send Off event (see information above). After that, they can be picked up in the Registrar’s Office on the first floor of Old Morrison between 8:30 am – 4:00 pm through Friday, May 28. Students must present their Crimson Card to claim their tickets. They can also designate someone else to pick their tickets up for them or make alternate arrangements by contacting academicdean@transy.edu.
Parking
Complimentary parking can be found around the Transylvania University campus. Note that a permit is not required on the ceremony day and guests may park in any open lot on campus. The lot at the corner of 4th Street and Upper will be reserved for disabled parking. If you require access to disabled parking, please click on the link above to request it.
Gratz Perk Open
Our coffee shop will be open in the Glenn Building adjacent to the ceremony site where you can purchase regular, decaf, and iced coffee; Pepsi products; donuts; fruit cups; and yogurt cups. Should the ceremony be moved into Haggin Auditorium due to rain, Gratz Perk will remain closed.
Please share your Commencement day photos with us using #TransyGrad.
Please direct questions to the Office of the Academic Dean: academicdean@transy.edu.
Alma Mater
“Hail, Transylvania!”
Hail, Transylvania, thine own are we,
Our hearts in loyal love we pledge to thee;
True to thy crimson flag thro’ all our days,
Hail, Transylvania! we sing thy praise.
First in the West to rise, seeker of truth,
May He who guides above renew thy youth;
Far thro’ the coming years, firm in the right,
Hail, Transylvania! pass on thy light.