UMass Amherst posts traffic advisories due to commencement
Updated May 10, 2021;
AMHERST A traffic advisory has been issued for Thursday and Friday, May 13-14, due to the graduate and undergraduate commencement ceremonies at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
On Thursday, May 13, the Graduate School Commencement will begin at 4 p.m. at Warren P. McGuirk Alumni Stadium on campus. Starting at 2:30 p.m., traffic on University Drive will be restricted to buses between Massachusetts Avenue and Amity Street, according to the UMass Amherst Police Department.
All vehicles attending the Graduate School Commencement should use Route 116 to the UMass exit. Vehicles will be parked in the parking lots surrounding the stadium.
May 5, 2021
The Graduate School has announced the winner of its various 2021 awards. The awards selection committee was tasked with making a number of tough decisions, as winners were selected from a pool of almost 100 nominations.
The 2021 Graduate School Award winners are:
Commitment to Diversity Student and Faculty Awards
The Commitment to Diversity Award annually recognizes one student and one faculty member for their outstanding contributions to diversity and inclusion within the UMass Amherst graduate student body.
Student Winner –
Faculty Winner –
Distinguished Mentor Award
The Distinguished Mentor Award recognizes faculty members for the indispensable work they perform in guiding graduate students to academic and professional success.
April 29, 2021
Dear Campus Community, I am pleased to share some exciting news regarding our upcoming commencement ceremonies. As a direct result of Governor Baker’s announcement earlier this week that the Commonwealth is further reducing pandemic restrictions, we are now able to welcome a limited number of registered guests two people per graduate to our commencement ceremonies. We have all endured a most difficult year, and we are truly excited to have this opportunity to host guests to honor the Class of 2021 at our Graduate School Commencement on May 13 and our Undergraduate Commencement on May 14. However, even with the announcement of the state’s modified pandemic-related guidelines, a number of public health protocols and COVID-19 restrictions will remain in place to ensure the health and wellbeing of attendees, including social distancing and facemask requirements.
Graduate School speakers to emphasize community, connection at Commencement
Bardiya Akhbari, a Ph.D. graduate in biomedical engineering, and Sonya Brooks, a master’s graduate in urban education policy, will speak about the power of human connection, especially in the midst of a global pandemic.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] Bardiya Akhbari and Sonya Brooks, both soon-to-be-graduating Brown University students, live 3,000 miles away from one another and may never meet. But they have something profound in common: Amid the global COVID-19 pandemic and the isolation it has mandated at points, they rediscovered the power of human connection.
Akhbari, a Ph.D. student in biomedical engineering, and Brooks, a master’s student in urban education policy, plan to speak about the importance of connection and community in separate addresses to their fellow Class of 2021 graduates at the University’s Graduate School Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 1.
Graduate School Commencement
Fall 2020 Commencement Ceremonies
Due to a rapid, uncontrolled increase in positive COVID-19 cases in our campus communities and throughout the state, Kansas State University is canceling commencement activities scheduled for Nov. 20-22. This includes ceremonies scheduled for the Manhattan and Salina campuses. The university will hold a virtual recognition in December with details to be announced.
Information for Graduates and Graduate Faculty
If you have any questions about purchasing or renting regalia, please contact the K-State Campus Store at 785-532-6583 or email Rhonda Darrow at 1336mgr@follett.com.
Master’s candidates participating in commencement exercises must wear a master’s cap, gown, hood, and tassel. Master’s regalia differs from bachelor’s regalia and can be purchased through the K-State Campus Store or online at www.k-statecampusstore.com.