Southwest Minnesota State University students will be allowed to walk across the stage to receive their diplomas during the 2021 spring Commencement to be held on May 8. However, spectators will not be allowed in the R/A Facility on campus during the ceremony.

A university press release stated that the commencement will start at 10 a.m. on that Saturday. It is also the 50th anniversary of the 1971 Charter Class Commencement.

In keeping with COVID-related safety measures, spectators will not be allowed to attend the ceremony, but the event will be streamed live.

A number of events associated with Commencement will be shown virtually as a precursor to the event. “We are calling it ‘Commencement Week,’ “ said Provost Ross Wastvedt, who heads up the SMSU Commencement Committee. “There will be a number of things normally associated with Commencement, like the address from President Jayasuriya and our student body president, that will be delivered virtually prior to Commencement.”

A number of videos featuring administrators, alumni, students and others will be released the week prior to Commencement. There will also be a large ‘Throwback Thursday’ photo album posted showing photos of past Commencements.

The naming of the Outstanding Senior will also be announced on Commencement day.