UTA plans in-person, virtual commencements for May
The University of Texas at Arlington will host in-person commencement ceremonies at Globe Life Field in May to celebrate its spring 2021 and all 2020 graduates, while preserving virtual commencement ceremonies for those who prefer an online celebration.
The spring commencement exercises will mark the first time UTA has hosted in-person ceremonies since December 2019, as all 2020 ceremonies were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“In the past year, we all made sacrifices in the interest of the health and safety of our communities,” Interim President Teik C. Lim and Vice President for Student Affairs Lisa Nagy said in a joint announcement to campus. “While we are proud of the resiliency demonstrated by Mavericks for continued excellence in the face of change, we have missed the tradition of honoring our newest alumni as they enter a new chapter equipped to make an impact. For that reason, we are thrilled to invite our graduates and recent alumni to participate—in person or virtually—in the restoration of this tradition.”
UTA students approved to graduate in spring 2021 and 2020 graduates have the opportunity to elect whether they would like to attend an in-person or virtual ceremony.
In-person commencement ceremonies will be hosted at Globe Life Field in Arlington from May 13-16. The facility’s size enables the University to maximize social distancing of guests and graduates. Face coverings will be required, and thorough sanitations will be conducted between ceremonies. Exact details about event protocols and precautions will be announced closer to the ceremony dates.
Virtual commencements will be held concurrently.
Lim and Nagy emphasized that the University continues to monitor local, state and federal guidelines and that plans remain flexible to prioritize health and safety. More specific event details and logistics information will be provided at uta.edu/commencement as they become available and in UTA’s Spring 2021 Commencement FAQs.
Approximately 20,000 Maverick students and alumni are invited to participate in the spring commencement ceremonies—14,000 members of the class of 2020 and 6,000 slated to receive their diplomas this spring.
