Get ready to celebrate the classes of 2020 and 2021, as USC’s 137th and 138th commencements will get underway beginning Friday, May 14. Here are some things you need to know about a commencement full of firsts:
- Because of COVID-19 restrictions, preregistration is required of graduates and guests (maximum of two guests per graduate). Preregistered graduates and guests will have received information with attendance requirements, which include social distancing and wearing face coverings.
- Anyone who has not preregistered will not be permitted inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Gatherings are not allowed outside the stadium.
- Ceremonies will combine elements of USC’s traditional main graduation ceremony with those of individual school and college ceremonies. Graduates will have the opportunity to process across the stage, hear their name announced, receive their diploma covers and have photos taken while projected on the screens at the stadium. Due to distancing requirements, it will not be possible to hood doctoral candidates; hooding ceremonies will take place in the future when restrictions are lifted.
- All ceremonies will be livestreamed online. Details will be available by Friday.
- Individual schools will hold virtual celebrations of their own on Thursday, May 13. The schedule is available online.
For complete information, visit the USC commencement 2021 website.
— David Medzerian
2021 commencement by the numbers
MORE THAN 36,000 diplomas (including undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates) being conferred
UP TO 1,500 Trojans from the classes of 2020 and 2021 expected to attend each of the twice-daily ceremonies
1950: Last time commencement was held in the Coliseum
60 FEET: Size of the video wall on the stage below the Coliseum’s iconic peristyle