In a break from past years, the 2021 universitywide Commencement ceremony will take place in person on the Johns Hopkins University Homewood campus. Only the graduating senior class, their guests, and Commencement officials will be in attendance. Graduate degree candidates of the Class of 2021 are invited to join via livestream.
The ceremony will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 27, on Homewood Field. Those unable to attend can watch online.
Image credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University
"We really wanted to push for something that was in-person if completely feasible and safe with COVID," said William Cho, president of the undergraduate Class of 2021, in a conversation with the Hub.
The ceremony
Degrees from all nine schools will be conferred during the ceremony, but only bachelor's degree candidates from the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, the Peabody Conservatory, and the Whiting School of Engineering and their guests (two maximum) will attend the ceremony. All graduate degree candidates and remaining family, friends, and guests of the graduates can join the ceremony virtually. Graduate degree candidates are also invited to participate in divisional ceremonies (more information below).
The 2021 Commencement speaker will be Michael R. Bloomberg, an entrepreneur, philanthropist, three-term mayor of New York City, and 1964 Johns Hopkins University graduate. During the Class of 2021's time at Johns Hopkins, Bloomberg made an historic $1.8 billion gift entirely for financial aid, allowing the university to permanently offer need-blind admissions and eliminate the need for student loans. Approximately 60% of the graduating class received financial aid supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Graduates attending in person will be assigned specific ceremony entry times and will recognized from their seats. There will be no candidate processional or stage crossing during this year's ceremony. To ensure a safe departure, all graduates will remain in their seats until the end of the event.
Each graduating senior may bring a maximum of two guests to the ceremony. Masks will be required at all times for guests and graduates, regardless of vaccination status.
What graduates should bring:
- A mask is required at all times during the ceremony
- Your phone—all graduates must present a Prodensity app pass and a GradPass digital entry ticket to participate in the ceremony
- Comfortable shoes
What guests and grads should not bring:
- Signs, posters, banners, and flags will not be allowed inside the stadium for safety reasons
- Backpacks and luggage are not permitted
- Food and drinks may not be brought into the stadium; a bottle of water will be provided to each graduate at their assigned seat
Diplomas will be mailed to the new graduates beginning in June.
Image credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University
Parking
Parking will not be available near the stadium and graduates are encouraged to arrive to campus by other means. Graduates and their guests planning to drive should find parking around Charles Village or in a campus parking garage. Parking will be limited so please plan ahead.
Commemorate the moment
Johns Hopkins has designed downloadable yard signs for families to celebrate their graduates at home.
Image credit: Johns Hopkins University
Gifs, stickers, and animations celebrating the Class of 2021 are available on the university's Giphy account. Those interested in celebrating virtually should also follow the Johns Hopkins Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts for more interactive content and commemorations.
Divisional ceremonies
Image credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University
School of Nursing
Tuesday, May 25, 11 a.m.
The School of Nursing Commencement ceremony will take place online and feature speaker Patricia Davidson, former dean of the School of Nursing and current vice chancellor at the University of Wollongong. Contact SON-Graduation@jhu.edu or call 410-614-3096 for more information.
Carey Business School
Tuesday, May 25, 2 p.m.
The Carey Business School Commencement ceremony will take place online. Contact carey.graduation@jhu.edu or call 410-234-9250 for more information.
Bloomberg School of Public Health
Tuesday, May 25, 3 p.m.
The School of Public Health Commencement ceremony will take place online and feature speaker Kizzmekia Corbett, senior research fellow and scientific lead of the Coronavirus Vaccines and Immunopathogenesis Team at the Vaccine Research Center at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Contact Tahirah McCants at tmccant1@jhu.edu or call 410-614-5061 for more information.
Peabody Conservatory
Wednesday, May 26, 10 a.m.
The Peabody Commencement ceremony will take place online and feature speaker Renée Fleming, a renowned soprano and arts Leader and advocate. Contact peabodygraduation@jhu.edu or call 667-208-6580 for more information.
School of Advanced International Studies
Wednesday, May 26, 10 a.m.
The SAIS Commencement ceremony will take place online and feature speaker Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director-general of the World Trade Organization. Contact SAIScommencement@jhu.edu or call 202-999-3332 for more information.
School of Education
Wednesday, May 26, 9 a.m.
The School of Education Commencement ceremony will take place online and feature speaker Marjorie Jenkins, dean of the University of South Carolina Greenville and an MEHP alum. Contact soe.registration@jhu.edu or call 410-516-9816 for more information.
School of Medicine
Wednesday, May 26, 2:30 p.m.
The School of Medicine Commencement ceremony will take place online and feature speaker Kenneth Frazier, chairperson and CEO of Merck & Co. Contact somgraduation@jhmi.edu for more information.
Krieger School Doctoral Hooding
Tuesday, May 25, 3 p.m.
The Krieger School Doctoral Hooding ceremony will take place online and feature speaker Percy A. Pierre from the University of Maryland. Contact phdhooding@jhu.edu for more information.
Krieger School Master's Degree Ceremony
Wednesday, May 26, 3 p.m.
The Krieger School Master's Degree Ceremony will take place online and feature speaker Bahija Jallal, CEO and director of the board of Immunocore. Contact aapevents@jhu.edu for more information.
Whiting School Doctoral Hooding
Wednesday, May 26, 10 a.m.
The Whiting School Doctoral Hooding ceremony will take place in a hybrid modality and feature speaker Percy A. Pierre from the University of Maryland. Visit the PhD website or email phdhooding@jhu.edu for more information.
Whiting School Master's Degree Ceremony
Wednesday, May 26, 3 p.m.
The Whiting School's Master's Degree Ceremony will take place in a hybrid format and feature speaker Reid Wiseman, NASA astronaut. Visit the website or contact Joyce Richardson at jrichard@jhu.edu or by calling 410-516-2252 for more information.
