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Office of the Chancellor

Planning in-person spring commencement at Carter-Finley

March 11, 2021

NC State community,

I am pleased to announce that NC State University plans to honor our spring 2021 graduates at two in-person commencement ceremonies at Carter-Finley Stadium on the evening of Friday, May 14, and the morning of Saturday, May 15, 2021.

We understand how difficult the past year has been for so many in the Wolfpack community, including our graduates and their families. We are proud of how hard our students have worked to push through the challenges and continue making progress toward their degrees. We are excited about the opportunity to safely welcome our graduates, and their loved ones, to celebrate their remarkable accomplishments at Carter-Finley Stadium in May.

The health and safety of our community remain our top priorities. NC State will continue to work with health officials as we finalize plans, and we will make any necessary adjustments to keep our Pack safe. Current health and safety guidelines and NC State’s community standards will be in effect for commencement. 

Much more information, including graduation speakers and commencement times, will be provided in the coming weeks. In particular, we will share details about how graduating students and their guests can RSVP for one of these ceremonies as soon as possible so everyone can plan accordingly. The event will be ticketed, and we anticipate that each graduate will be able to obtain up to four tickets for family or friends.

Finally, except in unique circumstances, our college and department-level ceremonies will be held virtually. We understand this may be a disappointment to some in our community. However, given the current state guidelines and the limited number of appropriate spaces on campus, most of our colleges and departments are simply unable to host in-person commencement events while complying with state orders regarding gathering sizes.

Please mark your calendars for our very special spring commencement ceremonies on May 14 and 15. I look forward to celebrating the achievements of the amazing class of 2021 soon, and I hope the rest of the NC State community will share in this excitement. Please continue to check our commencement website for more updated information.

Sincerely,

W. Randolph Woodson
Chancellor