{"id":2032,"date":"2021-02-26T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-02-26T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/blogtest\/feb-26-2021-president-mcphee-gives-update-on-spring-commencement\/"},"modified":"2026-04-15T15:16:23","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T20:16:23","slug":"feb-26-2021-president-mcphee-gives-update-on-spring-commencement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/president\/feb-26-2021-president-mcphee-gives-update-on-spring-commencement\/","title":{"rendered":"FEB. 26, 2021: President McPhee gives update on Spring commencement"},"content":{"rendered":"
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To the University Community,<\/span><\/p>\n

As we approach the month of March, I wanted to pause and express my gratitude for everyone \u2013 students, faculty and staff \u2013 working hard to keep COVID-19 in check. I am proud that our\u00a0<\/span>students and faculty in our\u00a0<\/span>School of Nursing, under the leadership of Dr. Jenny Sauls,\u00a0and our MTSU Student Health Services team, under the leadership of Richard Chapman and Dr. Eric Clark,\u00a0stepped forward in service to Rutherford County by opening a clinic on campus\u00a0to provide\u00a0vaccinations\u00a0for those eligible\u00a0under state guidelines. Eligible persons may request an appointment\u00a0at the MTSU clinic\u00a0by calling the Rutherford County COVID-19\u00a0Vaccine\u00a0Call Center at 615-898-7997; calling\u00a0the State scheduling center at 866-442-5301; or completing\u00a0a form online at\u00a0https:\/\/vaccinate.tn.gov<\/a>.\u00a0It is my hope that, when it\u2019s your turn, you\u2019ll get the vaccination.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, we are working diligently toward preparing the Fall 2021 Semester and the return of normal (and pre-pandemic) operations on campus. As such, in consultation with local and state health officials, and while monitoring trends regarding the pace of infections in the state and region, we are taking steps to return to Murphy Center for this May\u2019s Spring\u00a0<\/span>c<\/span>ommencement ceremonies.<\/p>\n

I am pleased to announce that I have authorized the University to schedule 12 to 15 small<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0in-person commencement ceremonies at Murphy Center on the weekend of May 7-9.\u00a0We will also hold a special ceremony in Murphy on Saturday, May 1, for any\u00a02020 graduates who\u00a0could not\u00a0participate at\u00a0last\u00a0November\u2019s commencement at Floyd Stadium.\u00a0Masks and social distancing will be required and strictly enforced.<\/p>\n

All May 2021 expected graduates and May, August, and December 2020 graduates who wish to participate in a May ceremony must complete and submit an electronic\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m Attending\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>reservation form, which the Registrar\u2019s Office will email Monday (March 1).\u00a0The electronic reservation form must be submitted no later than Friday, March 26, in order to participate in a May ceremony.<\/p>\n

Based upon the responses we receive, graduates will be assigned to an appropriate ceremony determined by the college of their major. Each participant will be allotted a limited number of guest tickets that will be distributed at the Student Union during scheduled cap and gown pick-up dates.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Participating graduates will be notified of their assigned ceremony day and time on Thursday, April 1, and will receive precise seating assignments, arrival times and other instructions closer to the ceremony date.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Please visit our MTSU\u00a0Graduation<\/a>\u00a0webpage for more information.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are other updates of interest:<\/span><\/p>\n