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UTEP Announces Details for Commencement Ceremonies in May 2021

Last Updated on March 24, 2021 at 12:00 PM

Originally published March 24, 2021

By UC Staff

UTEP Communications

The University of Texas at El Paso will host two in-person Commencement ceremonies at Sun Bowl Stadium in May for all graduates of the Class of 2020 and the 2021 spring and summer candidates.


The ceremonies will take place at 7 p.m. Friday, May 14, and Saturday, May 15. Friday’s ceremony will recognize bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral graduates and candidates in the colleges of Business Administration, Education and Liberal Arts. Saturday’s ceremony will honor graduates and candidates in the colleges of Engineering, Health Sciences and Science, and the schools of Nursing and Pharmacy.

“We’re looking forward to celebrating the accomplishments of our 2020 and 2021 graduates,” said UTEP President Heather Wilson. “Now that COVID-19 cases are declining in our community, and we have been able to vaccinate many of our students, faculty, staff and their family members through the UTEP vaccination program, we can safely host a meaningful in-person ceremony in the Sun Bowl.”

Each graduate will be allowed to invite at least two guests to attend the ceremonies. The number of guests per graduate may increase once the University determines the total number of graduates who will be attending and based on the public health conditions closer to the event. Graduates and candidates must RSVP to attend by April 16 in order to participate in the in-person ceremonies. 

“We don’t have a good way to estimate how many graduates from 2020 will want to come back and participate in person,” President Wilson said. “It’s really important for all students to tell us whether they will be participating by April 16 so that we can plan a safe event and let as many family and friends come as we can.”

Face coverings will be required, hand-sanitizing stations will be placed throughout the stadium, and social distancing and additional safety protocols will be in place based on CDC and state guidelines for this outdoor event, as well as local health conditions at the time.

The ceremonies will also be livestreamed.

For more information about Spring 2021 Commencement, visit www.utep.edu/commencement.