Spring 2021 Commencement

Ceremonies will be held at the Giant Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania on May 6 and 7. All undergraduate and graduate students who filed their intent to graduate in spring 2021 will receive information to attend the commencement ceremony for their assigned school within Penn State Harrisburg. 

Ceremonies, which will include all undergraduate and graduate students within each school, are as follows:

Which School does a particular degree belong to? Find out here!

Table of Contents

Tickets Required for Admittance to the Giant Center

Graduates

  • Instructions regarding the registration and ticketing process were sent to each graduate's Penn State email address on 4/12/21.
  • Graduates will receive their Grad Pass ticket upon registering in the Marching Order system and indicating they will attend.
  • This Grad Pass will be required for entry to the Giant Center.
  • Registration and ticketing will close April 30 at 11:55 p.m.
  • There will be no on-site registration or ticketing available.

Guests of Graduates

  • There is a limit of 4 (four) guests per graduate at Penn State Harrisburg ceremonies to allow for physical distancing, seating accommodations and stage placement.
  • All guests (over age 2) must have a ticket to enter the Giant Center. There will be no on-site registration or ticketing available.
  • Graduates must register their guests in the Marching Order system.
  • Graduates must provide name and contact info for each guest when registering.
  • Graduates will not be able to change their guests once registration closes.
  • Registration and ticketing will close April 30 at 11:55 p.m.
  • The Giant Center/Ticketmaster will send guest tickets to the graduate's PSU email the week of the ceremony.
  • The graduate is responsible for forwarding these tickets to their guests.

Graduates should register to attend and reserve guest tickets as soon as possible.
Registration and ticketing will close April 30 at 11:55 p.m. There will be no on-site registration or ticketing available.

Faculty and Administration

  • Faculty and administration will receive instructions for registering to attend one or more ceremonies via Penn State email.
  • The Giant Center/Ticketmaster will send faculty section tickets to the faculty member's PSU email the week of the ceremony.
  • Tickets will be required for admittance to the Giant Center for each ceremony.

Parking and Directions

Ceremony Overview

The college’s ceremonies will include the conferral of degrees, speakers and induction into the Penn State Alumni Association. To adjust for protocols that protect the health and safety of students, guests and employees in attendance, graduates will not be called upon to walk across the stage. However, each graduate's name will be announced.

Commencement Program

Livestreaming

live stream of ceremony via YouTube

The ceremonies will be livestreamed so friends and loved ones who are unable to attend may watch the ceremony that their graduate attends. The stream will be available on the Penn State Harrisburg YouTube channel starting a few minutes prior to each ceremony, and "on demand" once each ceremony ends.

Graduate Photos after Ceremony

GradImages will be available to take graduate portraits immediately after each commencement ceremony.
Graduates, please complete the photo card on your seat. After the ceremony ends, proceed to the tent in front of the Giant Center if you wish to pose for a graduation photo.Your proofs will be ready to view online as soon as 48 hours after the ceremony. If you have any questions after the ceremony about your photos, please contact the GradImages Customer Service Department at 800-261-2576 or [email protected]. There is no obligation to order photos. 

University-wide virtual ceremony

In addition to the in-person ceremonies, Penn State will also host a University-wide virtual ceremony to help make commencement accessible for all students and their loved ones. Graduates, friends and family members who are unable to attend or prefer to participate online may view the University-wide virtual ceremony on May 9 at 6 p.m. at virtual.commencement.psu.edu.

The virtual ceremony will celebrate all undergraduate and graduate students at Commonwealth Campuses, University Park and World Campus — including those also attending an in-person ceremony — and will feature the conferral of degrees, induction into the Alumni Association and more.

Health and safety guidelines

Masks, Physical Distancing, and other Precautions

All students, guests and employees across each campus will be required to wear face masks and maintain physical distancing from others to help minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19. Penn State Harrisburg staff will be on site to provide guidance and answer questions. All guests who will be attending an in-person commencement ceremony are expected to take health and safety precautions while traveling and during commencement weekend. In addition, graduates and guests should not attend an in-person ceremony if within the last 14 days they think they have been exposed, are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, are awaiting test results or have tested positive for COVID-19.

Temperature Checks

Graduates and guests should be prepared to undergo a touchless temperature screening prior to entering the Giant Center. Graduating students who would like to be tested for COVID-19 before attending their commencement ceremony will be able to do so by contacting the campus Student Health Services at 717-948-6015 or [email protected].

State and Federal Guidance

Penn State is monitoring closely the spread of new variants and the potential impact of increased activities such as travel nationally. The University is prepared to shift plans should circumstances surrounding the pandemic change or worsen. More information will continue to be shared and updated as needed leading up to commencement to align the University's plans with the most up-to-date federal and state guidance.

Should guidance from Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf and/or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shift to allow higher capacity for gatherings leading up to commencement weekend, the college's plans regarding capacity and guest limits will remain the same with up to four guests per graduate.

Class of 2020

In partnership with the Penn State Alumni Association and in consultation with alumni representatives, the University is planning for a special weekend in spring 2022 to celebrate the members of the class of 2020. More information will be forthcoming as the University continues to develop plans to welcome recent graduates and their families back to campuses next spring. Campuses will communicate specific plans for their alumni as they become available.

Jostens Rings

Purchase of Ceremony-Related Items

Share your #PSUgrad pride

Commencement is a time of celebration! You have achieved a significant milestone in your academic career, and your family, friends, and Penn State community are so proud of your accomplishments. As you tune in to the virtual ceremony, please consider taking photos of your in-home celebrations and sharing them with the Penn State family by using #PSHBGrad and #PSUgrad when you post. We would love to see your photos!

Follow Penn State Harrisburg's social media platforms for more commencement information and messages.



Share your Story

Penn State is looking for stories from our students graduating spring 2021. Tell us about your journey to graduation. How have your personal experiences as a student shaped your educational journey? How has your personal perseverance helped you reach your goals? How has Penn State Harrisburg impacted your life? What is ahead for you after graduation?

Send stories to [email protected].

Commencement Dates

Semester Date
Spring 2021 May 6 and May 7
Fall 2021 Saturday, December 18
Spring 2022 Saturday, May 7
Fall 2022 Saturday, December 17
Spring 2023 To be announced

The Academic Calendar is subject to change without notice.

Questions?

Please call 717-948-6002 or e-mail [email protected]