After a year of pandemic postponements, in-person graduation ceremonies are on —with commencement events like none before them.
“We’re so excited to gather in-person to honor these outstanding Horned Frogs and celebrate their many accomplishments and perseverance,” Chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr., said. “Commencement is such an important milestone for our students – and our university. It is the culmination of our faculty and staff’s unwavering dedication to our mission, a celebration for our families who have supported and encouraged our students and the beginning of Horned Frogs becoming part of our treasured alumni network.”
Planning graduation ceremonies during a pandemic required campus-wide collaboration — and even a little game day expertise. Commencement exercises will take place in Amon G. Carter Stadium over two days, with one May 7 ceremony for 2020 grads and two May 8 ceremonies for 2021 grads.
Here’s what you need to know:
Class of 2020
Graduates from all colleges will be celebrated in one ceremony at 4 p.m., Friday, May 7, in Amon G. Carter Stadium. Graduates should report to Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena using stadium gate 10 at least 45 minutes before their ceremony.
Class of 2021
Two commencement ceremonies will be held Saturday, May 8. The 9 a.m. ceremony is for graduation candidates from AddRan College of Liberal Arts, the College of Education, the School of Interdisciplinary Studies and Neeley School of Business. The 5 p.m. ceremony is for graduation candidates from Brite Divinity School, the Bob Schieffer College of Communication, the College of Fine Arts, the College of Science & Engineering and Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences. All candidates for graduation should report to Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena using stadium gate 10 at least 45 minutes before their ceremony.
Graduate and Guest Safety Protocols
Following current social distancing guidelines, stadium capacity will be limited to 10,200, using many of the same COVID-19 protective measures in place during TCU football games last fall. Face coverings and physical distancing will be required, and TCU’s clear bag policy will be enforced.
Where to Sit
As the stadium seating map shows, there won’t be a bad seat in the house! There will also be a live feed to the large screens on the North and South end zones from the time the procession begins from the Schollmaier Arena and including as each student walks the stage – so there will truly be a larger-than-life view of the ceremony from every seat.
Just like on game day, graduates and candidates for graduation will be seated in the student section (sections 120-126) on the stadium’s east side.
The faculty and stage will be on the east side near the south end zone in sections 127 and 128.
Parents, families and other guests may sit in the north and south end zones, the entire west side and the upper deck of the east side.
Other Need to Know Info
Guests may begin entering the stadium one hour prior to each ceremony through gates 6, 7 and 8 on the east side and gates 1, 3 and 5 on the west side.
Each ceremony — including pre-ceremony video programming — will be shown larger than life on the giant Jumbotron video board at the north end of the stadium and a smaller one in the south end. Those unable to attend can catch it all via livestream on YouTube.
In addition, prepackaged and sealed drinks and snacks will be available for (mostly cashless) purchase at the stadium.
Visit TCU’s commencement website for more details.