FAQ

Seating will be limited due to COVID-19 social distancing protocols. Therefore, each student may invite up to two guests to the ceremony. This is difficult, but necessary to manage health and safety. Thank you in advance for your understanding.

Yes. We are preparing a process for students to register their guests. Once guests have been registered, they will receive an email acknowledgment and students will pick up their tickets on campus prior to Commencement. Tickets are not transferable. They will be checked at entry points.

Yes, as in years past, we will livestream Commencement so every family member and friend can participate in this special moment virtually. Please bear in mind that our cameras will share the best views so that friends and extended family can enjoy Commencement from the comfort of their own homes.

COVID-19 protocols will be in place - masks and distancing will be required. While we certainly hope that COVID rates will continue their national downward trend, we will continue to maintain health and safety practices on campus. Seating for Commencement on the Academic Quad will be set up as follows: Students will be three feet apart. Guest chairs will be in pairs with three feet between pairs. Again, we will reevaluate these plans as we get closer to Commencement and will follow the advice of the public health professionals who have been guiding us.

Masks will be required for the duration of the Commencement event and at all times indoors and also outdoors whenever six feet of distance cannot be consistently maintained. This includes people who have been fortunate enough to receive a vaccination. Thank you in advance for your respect for our safety protocols.

Please be prepared for inclement weather. Commencement will be held outdoors regardless of weather conditions (barring an emergency situation). Audience members should be prepared for Ohio weather in May, which can range from warm sunshine to cool rain. The class of 2021 will be provided appropriate rain gear, if needed, during the ceremony.

Here is a list of area accommodations you may find useful.

Please note that based on current guidelines, all Commencement-related events on campus will have limited capacity. We strongly recommend that only two guests travel to campus. We encourage families to invite all family and friends to watch Commencement via livestream and to plan larger family and friend celebrations at home.

Remote learners who are deemed eligible by the Registrar’s Office to participate in Denison’s 2021 Commencement Ceremony are also eligible to return to campus housing Wednesday, May 19, 2021 at 4:00 PM through Saturday, May 22, 2021 at 7:00 PM.

Students who qualify for this accommodation will receive an email from housing@denison.edu with an application for housing. This email will be sent on Thursday, April 1, and the RSVP is due by Tuesday, April 20, 2021.

Please see the schedule of events for this information.

Students, families, and campus partners worked together to make an in-person Commencement celebration possible during such extraordinary times.

Please submit your questions to commencement@denison.edu.

Our current guidelines state that students may not eat indoors, except on campus. You may enjoy takeout and a picnic meal on campus or in a local park. As we get closer to the date, we will reevaluate this policy.

At this time, students are not permitted to drive in cars with their families. As we get closer to the date, we will reevaluate this policy.

The ceremony will be held outdoors on grass. Please keep this in mind for guests with accessibility issues. Ushers and Commencement staff will do their best to accommodate guests with wheelchairs and other special needs. Sign language interpreters will also be present to interpret for hearing-impaired guests. If you have specific concerns about special-needs guests, please e-mail commencement@denison.edu.

Yes, professional photographers will be present to take photographs of graduates as they cross the stage. These photographs will be available for purchase after Commencement. Additional photos will be posted on our Flickr site and may be downloaded free of charge.

Slayter Hall will be open and will provide beverage and snack items for purchase.

Distribution of caps and gowns will begin Monday, April 12. Remote-learning students returning to campus will be able to pick up their cap and gown until 10 am on Saturday, May 22, (the day of Commencement) at the Denison University Bookstore in Slayter Student Union.

All graduating students must depart housing and return keys by 7PM ET on Saturday, May 22, 2021 so we may begin preparing rooms for summer housing. We recommend students pack their belongings in advance so that Commencement Day and its festivities can be enjoyed fully! Dumpsters and donation pods will be available near senior communities to make the process fast and easy.

Emergency medical services will be located next to Doane Hall during the duration of the ceremony.

From June 10 through June 12, 2022, the Class of 2020 will celebrate Commencement and participate in a unique second-year Reunion. Learn more here.

The 2021 tassel charms will be given to seniors with their wristbands during Senior Week. If a student is not participating in Senior Week, they can collect their charm at the CLIC office on Slayter 3rd floor.