GSPIA Graduation 2021

Commencement 2021

• What graduation events are offered this year? 

  There are three opportunities for GSPIA students to celebrate their graduation.

   

  Thursday, April 29, 2021

  University Graduate and Professional Student Commencement

  Hosted by University of Pittsburgh Special Events

  This formal ceremony will take place in the Petersen Events Center and you must RSVP to attend.

   

  Friday, April 30, 2021

  GSPIA Grad Pop-Up at Posvar

  Hosted by GSPIA

  This informal event is taking place outside on the Posvar Patio and is a socially distanced, masked event. Graduates must RSVP to attend.

   

  Saturday, May 1, 2021

  GSPIA Commencement 2021

  Hosted by GSPIA

  This is a formal virtual commencement event taking place online via Zoom, hosted in webinar format.

  Graduates must RSVP to attend.

• When do I need regalia?

  If you’ve registered to attend the in-person event in the Petersen Events Center on April 29th, full regalia is required. For the April 30th Grad Pop-Up on the Posvar Patio, you are encouraged to wear regalia (if you have it). If you signed up to receive a graduation box, you’ll have a cap & tassel that you can bring with you as well for photo ops. On the day of GSPIA’s virtual graduation, festive attire is encouraged, but the webinar format will not require you to use your camera or be visible.

• How can my family celebrate with me?

  If you’re planning to come to Posvar Hall for our socially distant in-person opportunity on April 30th, you are welcome to bring your family. We ask that you stay with your pod during your visit and limit your guests as much as possible as we’re trying to keep the event manageable given event restrictions and spacing.

  You are encouraged to watch the Virtual Commencement Event on Saturday, May 1st with your family and if you can’t watch together in-person, you can encourage your family to register and receive their own link to join. We’ll also be sharing the Virtual Commencement Event on YouTube

• Who all is invited to the graduation events?

  GSPIA graduation events will celebrate our students completing their degrees in April 2021. Additionally, our events welcome students who completed their degrees in August and December 2020. We also welcome our GSPIA community of faculty, staff, current students and friends to join us as we celebrate.

• What about students planning to graduate in August 2021?

  Students completing their GSPIA degrees in August 2021 will be invited to next year’s events. If there are extenuating circumstances that would prevent you from celebrating next year, please reach out to GSPIA Student Services.

• What about the deadline to register for the University-wide event on April 29th?

  While we can’t answer detailed questions about the University-wide event being planned by University of Pittsburgh Special Events, we can point you in the right direction. Here’s their contact info: 412-624-7100, gradinfo@pitt.edu. They also have additional information and a summary of FAQ’s related to events in the Petersen Events Center on their site: https://www.commencement.pitt.edu/.

  If you are interested in attending the in-person commencement in the Petersen Events Center but have not yet sent an RSVP, you should reach out ASAP as their space is limited due to capacity restrictions.

• What’s the Grad Pop-Up at Posvar going to include?

  At the event, we hope to offer that “walk across the stage” moment for those that want an in-person opportunity but prefer to be outside. We’ll have music, we’ll be announcing our grads, there will be a professional photo opportunity and red-carpet banner and our GSPIA community will be there to clap and cheer for our newest graduates.

• What happens if Pitt changes its operational posture and further limits in-person? 

  We’re closely monitoring the campus posture and consulting regularly with the University’s COVID Medical Response Office (CMRO). We hope to be able to offer our in-person, masked and socially distant opportunity on 4/30, but will continue to provide updates as they become available. The University will communicate any changes to the in-person opportunity on 4/29. Our virtual event will be unaffected.