Celebrating the Class of 2021
Congratulations on your achievements! We are pleased to announce that Commencement will be held in person on the weekend of May 14, 15, and 16, 2021.
Registration for commencement is now open! Please register by April 30, 2021.
Friday, May 14
We will hold Masses organized by college in Holy Name of Jesus Church. Based on initial RSVP numbers, you will be able to bring up to four guests to Mass. We will be following New Orleans’ usual church protocols and occupancy requirement, which have worked well for months now.
There will be no virtual ceremony on Friday night. Instead, we will engage with campus in a way that spreads out our numbers to allow you to include your guests. After the Mass for each college, we invite the graduates of that college, and their families, to wander around campus in regalia. We hope it will be a moment when you can show Loyola off to your guests, introduce them to your professors, and see other friends and their families.
New Orleans restaurants are open for dinner plans, with distanced tables for those who feel comfortable inside, outdoor seating, or many offer curbside pickup or delivery options through services like Grubhub and Waitr.
Saturday, May 15 – Sunday, May 16
The diploma ceremonies will now be held at UNO Lakefront Arena, about 25 minutes from Loyola’s campus. You may have up to four guests, and we will livestream the ceremonies for anyone who does not fit or cannot travel. Graduates will have assigned seats on the floor of the arena in accordance with public health restrictions. We will add as much pomp and circumstance as we can, and show the virtual speeches during the ceremony.
The number of graduates by college do not divide neatly into four. Instead, we will divide you by last name, in reverse alphabetical order.
Saturday at 2 pm: R-Z
Saturday at 6 pm: L-Q
Sunday at 10 am: E-K
Sunday at 2 pm: A-D
For those who cannot make it: We will also release an entirely virtual ceremony for you on Saturday, May 15, so you can gather with friends and family wherever you are.
This year, more than ever before, it is important that you let us know if your attendance plans change. Please complete the registration form to let us know which events you plan to attend. We will continue to send more information as it becomes available, and you can send questions and special requests to commencement@loyno.edu.
Are you part of the Class of 2020? Learn about the special events we have planned for you.
Schedule of Events
Friday, May 14
| Event | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| College of Music and Media Mass and Awards | 9 a.m. | Holy Name of Jesus Church |
| College of Arts and Sciences Mass and Awards | 11 a.m. | Holy Name of Jesus Church |
| College of Business Mass and Awards | 1 p.m. | Holy Name of Jesus Church |
| College of Nursing and Health Mass and Awards | 3 p.m. | Holy Name of Jesus Church |
Saturday, May 15
| Event | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Diploma ceremony, all graduates, last names R-Z | 2 p.m. | UNO Lakefront Arena |
| Diploma ceremony, all graduates, last names L-Q | 6 p.m. | UNO Lakefront Arena |
Sunday, May 16
| Event | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Diploma ceremony, all graduates, last names E-K | 10 a.m. | UNO Lakefront Arena |
| Diploma ceremony, all graduates, last names A-D | 2 p.m. | UNO Lakefront Arena |
Please note: The College of Nursing and Health is doing their own ceremony on campus on Saturday, May 15. CNH graduates should check their email for details. The College of Law will hold separate Commencement ceremonies on May 12 – 13 for law graduates. Law students can find updates here and check their emails for more info.