Meredith College Commencement Update
Meredith College is delighted to announce that we will be holding in-person Commencement ceremonies this spring.
The Class of 2021 celebrations will be held Saturday, May 15, at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m., and Sunday, May 16, at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. View the Commencement Program 2021.
While Governor Roy Cooper reduced North Carolina’s distancing and mask mandates on May 14 following updated CDC guidance for fully vaccinated people, Meredith College will keep its requirements on distancing and wearing face coverings in effect during Commencement weekend, May 15-16.
These commencement celebrations will be held in person, outdoors, and on campus with limited capacity – each student may bring two guests. Attendees will need to register in advance following the instructions below.
The College is also providing a Live Stream at YouTube.com/MeredithCollegeLive to allow for additional participation.
Registration Details
2021 Commencement Ceremony: register via SignUp Genius.
- Each Commencement Ceremony time slot has a limit of 100 graduates. During registration, you will be asked to input the name and contact information for two (2) guests. Your guests will receive an email within 48 hours with further instructions on how to access campus and where to park.
- If you need additional tickets, you may submit a request for one additional ticket. Please use this request form for 2021 graduates. We also encourage you to reach out to your classmates who may have extra tickets. Your classmate would then register your guest as their own guest in SignUp Genius. Requests for additional tickets may not be able to be accommodated.
- If you need to make an adjustment to your registration in SignUp Genius, you will need to access the confirmation email that was sent to your Meredith email address to make changes.
- If you have any problems signing up, please contact commencement@meredith.edu.
In addition, graduate students were invited to participate in Hooding Ceremonies on Saturday, May 8:
- Education – 10 a.m.
- Psychology – 12 p.m.
- Nutrition – 2 p.m.
- Business – 4 p.m.
We appreciate the patience of our students, graduates, and their families as the College navigates the pandemic.
Senior Photography Guidelines Spring 2021
Members of either class who are interested in purchasing caps and gowns may visit the Campus Store or call (919) 760-8545 for assistance. Graduates interested in having portraits taken on campus should contact Meredith Events at events@meredith.edu or (919) 760-8533. (Please note, students and graduates may remove their face coverings while in individual, scheduled, outdoor photo shoots, including cap and gown portraits, as long as appropriate physical distance is maintained. Photo shoots of individual students are permitted and may include one or two family members or friends with whom students are currently residing.)
Commencement FAQs
All Commencement Ceremonies, including Hooding Ceremonies for graduate programs, will be held in the courtyard behind Johnson Hall. Visit meredith.edu/commencement for a full schedule.
While some elements are different this year, Meredith College wants to provide your class with as many commencement traditions as possible. To help you know what to expect, detailed messages were sent to all graduates who have registered to participate in one of our ceremonies.
COVID-19 Entrance Testing is not required for Commencement participants. Members of the Class of 2021 and their guests only need to complete self-screening through Campus Clear.
Graduates are able to submit a request for one additional ticket. Please use this request form for 2020 graduates and this request form for 2021 graduates. You may also reach out to classmates and see if anyone has an extra guest ticket that they are not using. You will need to attend the same ceremony as the classmate who is giving you their extra ticket(s). Your classmate would register your guest as their own guest in SignUp Genius. Requests for additional tickets may not be able to be accommodated.
Yes, anyone who attends a ceremony counts as a guest, regardless of age.This guideline will help Meredith College comply with pandemic event capacity rules.
Email commencement@meredith.edu for assistance.
All guests will receive an email from Meredith Events with a link to a Google Form they must complete. The bottom of the form has questions where guests can request accessibility accommodations.
Parking information will be included in the email guests receive from Meredith Events.
Graduate programs have shared instructions on how graduates should carry their hoods to the Hooding Ceremony. Please note, when you attend one of the Commencement Ceremonies, you should arrive wearing your hood, since hooding ceremonies are being held separately.
In order to make our Commencement ceremonies available to a larger audience, these events will be available for online viewing at youtube.com/MeredithCollegeLive.
All of Meredith’s Commencement Ceremonies and the Hooding Ceremonies for graduates are planned to be held outdoors in the Courtyard behind Johnson Hall.
In case of inclement weather, members of the graduating classes will be directed to Jones Auditorium. Because of capacity limitations, guests will be directed to alternate viewing locations around campus to watch the event via live stream.
Emails with specific instructions in the event of inclement weather will be sent to the emails used to register to attend as soon as possible. Announcements will also be posted online at meredith.edu/commencement and on meredith.edu.
Class of 2020: To use the hotline for your class, dial (919) 760-2020 and leave a message stating the correct pronunciation of your first, middle, and last names. Please make sure to speak slowly and clearly, and leave a call back number for verification and questions. The name pronunciation hotline will be open until noon on Friday, April 30.
Class of 2021: To use the hotline for your class, dial (919) 760-2021 and leave a message stating the correct pronunciation of your first, middle, and last names. Please make sure to speak slowly and clearly, and leave a call back number for verification and questions. The name pronunciation hotline will be open until noon on Friday, May 14.
Meredith College plans to hold Class Day exercises for the Class of 2020 and the Class of 2021. All Class Day ceremonies will be socially distanced, with limited attendance, and wearing face coverings will be required.
Class of 2020
Meredith will hold a Class Day ceremony for the Class of 2020 in the McIver Amphitheatre immediately following each Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 1 and Sunday, May 2. Each Class Day program will last approximately 15-20 minutes. The program will include class history, a tribute to the class, songs, and performances by the 2022 and 2020 Bathtub Rings. Class of 2020 members will be seated and socially distanced in the Amphitheatre. Participants are asked to check in with a marshal upon arrival to the Amphitheatre. Only members of the Class of 2020 and their Little Sister Class of 2022 will be able to sit in the Amphitheatre, in keeping with COVID-19 capacity guidelines.
Attire for the Class of 2020 and Class of 2022
Because the Class Day event for the Class of 2020 takes place immediately after their Commencement ceremonies, these class members are not required to wear white.
Class of 2020 members can wear their caps and gowns or other attire. Members of the Class of 2022 and individuals on the program will be dressed in the traditional white attire. Face coverings are required.
Class of 2021
Class Day will be held on Friday, May 14, 2021, between 4-7 p.m. The College will hold multiple ceremonies during this time period, which will be announced when confirmed. Each ceremony will last about 30 minutes. Attendance is limited in keeping with COVID-19 capacity guidelines.
Download the 2021 Class Day Program.
Attire for the Class of 2021 and Class of 2023
Participants in the Classes of 2021 and 2023 are asked to wear white attire and neutral/white shoes. Face coverings are required. Please consider wearing a white, neutral or Meredith face covering to this event.
After Spanish and biology major Cinthia Arreola, ‘21, took a course in Spanish translation during her junior year, she found new ways to support her community.
Graphic design major Bailey Birtchet, ’21, received a Fulbright award after building a strong academic and professional record through internships and undergraduate research.
Business administration major and honors student Tasia Bromell, ’21, studied abroad and held leadership roles both on campus and during her HR internship. She will continue her education at Meredith as an accelerated MBA student.
