Graduation & Commencement

Fall 2021 Commencement Information

The fall 2021 commencement ceremonies will be held in-person on Friday, December 10, 2021 in the Humphrey Coliseum on the Starkville Campus. Graduates must arrive no later than 30 minutes prior to their ceremony start time. Graduates and faculty will enter in the rear of the Coliseum close to the SE entrance to Dudy Noble Field. This is also where graduates will exit the Coliseum after walking across the stage.

As of now, facial coverings will be required for unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated individuals at the fall 2021 commencement ceremonies. Fully vaccinated individuals are highly encouraged, but not required, to wear facial coverings. We are monitoring CDC data for Oktibbeha County COVID-19 transmission risk and may make changes to this requirement as appropriate.

Please read through these important notes about the ceremonies:

Security screening will take place upon entry and all bags are subject to search.
Please DO NOT bring personal items into the Coliseum. There will not be any storage areas available and anything left in seats will be thrown away.
Guest attendance will be limited to 8 guests per graduate and all guests must have tickets to enter (regardless of age). Ticket information can be found below.
Guest seating will be general admission and first-come, first-served. Social distancing is strongly encouraged but will not be enforced. Please DO NOT sit in the roped off sections behind the stage.
Graduates will be seated after check-in and an entrance processional will not be included in the ceremonies. However, graduates will still walk across the stage as they are announced and congratulated.
Graduates will receive a diploma cover as they cross the stage. Physical contact with anyone on stage is prohibited.
Once graduates are recognized by walking across the stage, they will not return to their seats. Instead, they will be guided to the photography area where they will take a professional photo before exiting the Coliseum.
Guests are expected to begin leaving the Coliseum once their graduate exits the stage. Please do this quietly with respect to other graduates and guests.
Re-entry into the Coliseum will not be permitted, and each ceremony should last roughly 1.5 hours total.
There will be no concessions available during the ceremonies. Guests may bring one clear water bottle into the Coliseum.
Custodial staff will sanitize the Coliseum before, during, and after each ceremony with special attention to restrooms, entry areas, and high-touch areas.
Please plan to remove all vehicles from the parking areas promptly after the morning ceremony to make space for guests attending the afternoon ceremony.
Any guests who are unable to attend may view a livestream of the ceremonies online (links can be found below).

Fall 2021 Ceremony Divisions are as follows:

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2021

9:30 a.m. (Doors open at 8 a.m.)
College of Architecture, Art & Design
College of Arts & Sciences
College of Education
Academic Affairs

3:30 p.m. (Doors open at 2 p.m.)
Bagley College of Engineering
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
College of Business
College of Forest Resources
College of Veterinary Medicine

Fall 2021 Commencement Parking Map

Please click the button below to view/download the fall 2021 commencement ceremony parking map. If you have any trouble viewing the map, please contact the Registrar's Office for assistance.

Fall 2021 Commencement Ceremony Parking Map

Fall 2021 Coliseum Diagram

Please click the button below to view/download the fall 2021 commencement coliseum diagram. If you have any trouble viewing the diagram, please contact the Registrar's Office for assistance.

Fall 2021 Commencement Coliseum Diagram

Guest Accommodations: Reserved parking will be available in the areas closest to the East side of the Coliseum for any guests with an ADA tag on their vehicle (parking map above). Carts will be running through these reserved lots to assist guests from their vehicles to the sidewalk. Once inside, there will be reserved sections on the main level for any guests needing to avoid the stairs. These areas are wheelchair accessible and can be found on the Coliseum diagram above. Staff will be available throughout the Coliseum to assist guests as needed.

There is no need to make reservations, but we do recommend arriving close to when the doors open to ensure you may sit in your preferred section. Please remember that guest seating is first-come, first-served, but we should have plenty of room for everyone in attendance.

**GRADUATES MUST APPLY FOR THEIR DEGREE THROUGH BANNER IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THEIR DIPLOMA. THE FINAL DEADLINE TO APPLY IS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021. (Diplomas are mailed 4-6 weeks after the ceremonies)**

(Please note that all plans are subject to change.)

Fall 2021 Guest Ticket Information

Guest tickets are now available and instructions for claiming them are below. Each graduate may invite up to eight guests and tickets will be available until the day of the ceremonies. However, please claim your tickets soon in case you have any issues. There is no cost for tickets.

ALL GUESTS MUST HAVE A TICKET TO ENTER THE COLISEUM!
Tickets are specific to each ceremony, so please be sure your tickets are for the correct time. Additional tickets will not be available through MSU.

TICKET INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALREADY ACTIVATED STUDENT ACCOUNTS

If you have purchased football season tickets during your time at MSU, you have previously activated your Student DogTag account so please follow the instructions below:

Steps:
1. Under "Already Registered" enter your Student ID and the password you created upon activation. (If you have forgotten your password, click the "forgot password" link and a temporary password will be emailed to you. Follow instructions in the email to update password). **Note: This login is for your student DogTag account, which is separate from your Hail State Rewards account.**
2. Under the header "Graduation Ceremony," click Find Tickets.
3. Enter the quantity, up to 8, and click Add to Cart.
4. Verify the number of tickets you are getting and click Checkout.
5. On the Payment Screen, it will have a $0 balance.
6. Click "Place Your Order" (you should then be taken to a confirmation screen).
7. Tickets will be sent to your email address to print/download.

TICKET INSTRUCTIONS FOR NEW OR NON-ACTIVATED ACCOUNTS

If this is your first time using the athletics website, follow the steps below to activate your student DogTag account prior to claiming tickets.

Steps:
1. Click "Register" and enter your Student ID and Click "Activate."
2. On the next page, enter and confirm a password and update your contact info. Click Next after finished updating.
3. Follow steps 2 through 7 above.

PLEASE READ INSTRUCTIONS ABOVE BEFORE PROCEEDING TO TICKET SITE!

If you have any issues claiming your tickets, please contact the Ticket Office at (662) 325-2600.

Regalia Orders (Cap & Gown)

If you are participating in the ceremonies this semester and have not yet ordered your cap & gown, you must visit Barnes & Noble at MSU starting Wednesday, December 8, 2021 to be fitted from a limited supply of extras. Additional regalia information can be found here: www.gradsupply.com/msu Regalia orders will be available for pickup at Barnes & Noble on Wednesday, December 8, and Thursday, December 9, from 8-5 both days.

- All Bachelor, Master, and Specialist graduates may keep their entire regalia package.

- Doctoral graduates may only keep their cap & tassel. Please return your rental gown and hood to Barnes & Noble at MSU following your ceremony. If you are interested in purchasing your gown and/or hood, you will be given the option when you check-in your items at the bookstore.

View our new, custom regalia here: MSU Custom Regalia

Faculty Regalia

MSU faculty may order commencement regalia using this link: www.gradsupply.com/msu-faculty

MSU is proud to offer custom regalia to our graduates. All regalia must be purchased through the Graduate Supply House website, or through Barnes & Noble at MSU.

Commencement Photography

Professional photography, Pro Pics, will be available at the commencement ceremonies to take portraits of graduates. Photos of the graduates on-stage with the President, as well as individual portraits, will be available for purchase from Pro Pics following the ceremonies. In order to identify your photos and receive proofs, please visit www.MSUphotos.com to submit your information. There is no cost to have your photo taken and no obligation to purchase.

The MSU Alumni Association has also worked with Pro Pics to offer professional photography at some popular photo locations on campus. These include the Bully Statue in The Junction, Lee Hall in the Drill Field, and the Chapel of Memories. Professional photographers will be at these locations for approximately 1 hour following each ceremony on December 10th. Check out an example photoshoot and the commencement photo map below for more information. There is no need to make an appointment and walk-ups are welcome.

Questions about these photo opportunities can be emailed to: info@propicsusa.com

Livestreams of Ceremonies

If you wish to watch the Starkville Campus Commencement Ceremonies but are unable to attend, you can still watch the live ceremonies online! The following links may be used to access the livestream that will broadcast the live ceremonies:

Mississippi State University Television LIVE

The livestream will also be available on the official Mississippi State University Facebook page (@msstate).

Commencement Videos

Starkville Campus Commencement Ceremonies

Mississippi State University holds multiple main campus commencement ceremonies in the Humphrey Coliseum at the end of the fall and spring semesters. Students who graduate at the end of the summer semester are invited to attend the December ceremony.

**NOTE: Students should refer to the Academic Calendar for graduation application deadlines and ceremony dates.

Students who plan to graduate in May, August, or December must apply for graduation by the dates published in the MSU Academic Calendar. If a student fails to graduate in the term for which they have applied, they must reapply during the term in which all degree requirements are met. Degree applicants must also pay their MSU account balances in full, prior to the graduation ceremony.

FALL 2021

Friday, December 10, 2021 - 9:30 a.m.
College of Architecture, Art & Design
College of Arts & Sciences
College of Education
Academic Affairs

Friday, December 10, 2021 - 3:30 p.m.
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
College of Business
Bagley College of Engineering
College of Forest Resources
College of Veterinary Medicine

SPRING 2022

Thursday, May 12, 2022 - 3:30 p.m. (Processional at 3pm)
College of Education
College of Business
ACCESS

Friday, May 13, 2022 - 9:30 a.m. (Processional at 9am)
College of Arts & Sciences
College of Architecture, Art & Design

Friday, May 13, 2022 - 3:30 p.m. (Processional at 3pm)
Bagley College of Engineering
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
College of Forest Resources
College of Veterinary Medicine
Academic Affairs

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) Commencement Ceremonies

The spring 2022 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Commencement will be on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 in the Humphrey Coliseum. Please contact the Vet School for information regarding the DVM Ceremony at (662) 325-1078.

Meridian Campus Commencement Ceremonies

The Mississippi State University Meridian Campus (MSU-Meridian) commencement ceremonies are held at the MSU Riley Center in Meridian, MS. The ceremony times are as follows:

FALL 2021: Thursday, December 9, 2021 @ 11:00 a.m.

SPRING 2022: Thursday, May 12, 2022 @ 11:00 a.m.

For additional questions regarding the MSU-Meridian Commencement Ceremonies, please contact: abrown@meridian.msstate.edu

Degree Audit

Degrees are awarded after the appropriate representatives from the colleges and schools have reviewed the student records and notified the Office of the Registrar that students are cleared to graduate.

Learn More

University Degree Audit (CAPP)

All MSU students have access to the degree audit system CAPP (curriculum, advising, and program planning) in myState.

Learn More

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES, CONTACT:

Nathan Griffey
Commencement Coordinator
Office of the Registrar
Mississippi State University
(662) 325-4729
ngriffey@registrar.msstate.edu

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT GRADUATION & DEGREE AUDIT, CONTACT:

Office of the University Registrar
P.O. Box 5268
Mississippi State, MS 39762-5268
(662) 325-4123 or (662) 325-9407
Office Hours: M-F 8:00-5:00
graduation@registrar.msstate.edu