Commencement is one of life’s milestone occasions — and a time to celebrate one’s future.
Traditional Commencement ceremonies occur at the end of the spring and fall terms and degree candidates are invited to participate in the college ceremony in which their degree program falls.
Dear TU graduates, students, faculty & staff —
Due to current state health guidelines, TU was unable to host commencement this fall as rescheduled for spring 2020 graduates. While we are incredibly disappointed that we have been unable honor our most recent graduates in person, we look forward to being able to celebrate as soon as it is safe to do so.
Based on the overwhelming results from surveying these graduates, TU will be moving forward with plans for commencement in Spring 2021 for 2020 graduates, rather than a virtual ceremony this fall. The commencement committee sincerely thanks all graduates who participated in the survey to provide feedback, which helped inform these plans.
These ceremonies will include spring 2021 graduates, as well as those from spring, summer and fall 2020, as the winter ceremonies traditionally held in SECU Arena in December were postponed as a result of the pandemic.
The current state guidelines continue to prohibit us from holding an in-person ceremony, but we continue to remain hopeful that an in-person event will be possible during the week of May 17-21, 2021. The commencement committee will continue to meet regularly and will provide monthly updates to graduates in regards to plans for the spring. A final decision about the modality of commencement will be made by March 15, 2021.
TU will continue to follow best practices and guidance from local, state and federal partners to ensure this celebration of our graduates can be done so safely.
Thank you. Stay healthy. And be safe.
Melanie Perreault
Provost & Executive Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs
Students and Faculty are invited to nominate a student speaker. Students can self-nominate or nominate another student. Faculty can also nominate a student. Please see the link above for additional instructions and information.
*Times & Colleges are TBD
| Ceremony 1 | Monday, May 17 AM |
| Ceremony 2 | Monday, May 17 PM |
| Ceremony 3 | Tuesday, May 18 AM |
| Ceremony 4 | Tuesday, May 18 PM |
*Times are TBD
|
Fisher College of Science and Mathematics |
Wednesday, May 19 AM |
|
College of Fine Arts and Communication |
Wednesday, May 19 PM |
|
College of Education
|
Thursday, May 20 AM |
|
College of Liberal Arts
|
Thursday, May 20 PM |
|
College of Health Professions
|
Friday, May 21 AM |
|
College of Business and Economics |
Friday, May 21 PM |
Commencement is a traditional university ceremony celebrating the accomplishments of our degree candidates. Academic degrees date from the second half of the twelfth century. The present ceremony recognizing scholarly achievement retains all the essential features of its ancient predecessors.
Towson University awards academic degrees at the bachelor’s, master and doctoral levels. The university also awards post-baccalaureate certificates and certificates of advanced study. Degrees are symbolically conferred during Commencement, and candidates completing all degree requirements successfully receive their diplomas four to six weeks after the ceremony.
The doctoral degree is the most advanced earned degree conferred by American institutions. There are two distinct types: the practitioner's degree and the research degree.
The master’s degree is an academic honor bestowed upon candidates who have successfully completed work beyond the bachelor's degree. A thesis and an oral examination are usually required.
The bachelor’s degree represents the completion of a four-year course of college-level study and is the oldest academic degree awarded by American institutions of higher learning. The Maryland State Normal School, which later became Towson University, awarded its first bachelor's degrees in 1866.