Commencement

Commencement Weekend Celebrating the Classes of 2020 and 2021

Commencement weekend festivities will begin on Thursday, May 6, as we honor the late Dr. John Starkey. Join us from 1 to 2 p.m. for an interfaith tree and bench dedication ceremony, north of the Bishop Angie W. Smith Chapel.

NOTE: Children age 2 and younger are permitted to be treated as lap children, and will not count toward a graduate’s four-person guest limit.

Class of 2020 | Friday, May 7th

The Class of 2020 will be celebrated from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 7, at the Freede Center. Class of 2020 graduates are asked to arrive outside the north doors of the Freede Center. Class of 2020 alumni are requested to RSVP by April 9, 2021. Alumni will each be allowed to bring up to four guests; additional guests are invited to watch graduates walk across the stage via a live-stream on the OCU website. Festivities for the Class of 2020 will include virtual baccalaureate (prior to Friday), walking across a stage in the Freede Center in traditional cap and gown for a photo opportunity with President Burger, the inauguration of the first ever “Sign the Gold Star” graduation event, and photo opportunities with iconic OCU backdrops. An outdoor space will be provided for the Class of 2020 to gather to see friends, classmates and faculty as OCU celebrates their unique achievements.

Class of 2021 | Saturday, May 8th

The Class of 2021 commencement ceremonies will occur on Saturday, May 8, at the Freede Center. Graduates will each be allowed to bring up to four guests; additional guests are invited to watch graduates walk across the stage via a live-stream on the OCU website. Commencement for the Class of 2021 will be spread out over the course of the day by school to account for social distancing (see timeline below). Celebrations will be accomplished in manners unique to OCU, complete with prerecorded videos, virtual baccalaureate (Saturday morning), walking across a stage in the Freede Center in cap and gown to be recognized for the achievement of their OCU degree by President Burger, participation in the newly inaugurated “Sign the Gold Star” graduation event, and photo opportunities with iconic OCU backdrops. Outdoor spaces will be provided for the Class of 2021 to gather to conclude their student experience and be formally welcomed as new Star alumni. The class of 2021 schedule is as follows:

(Graduates are asked to congregate, socially distanced, at the Freede Center north doors at least 15 minutes prior to their assigned graduation time)

POD 1 | 9 to 11 a.m.

(8:45 a.m. arrival time)
Dance and Theatre degrees

POD 2 | 10 a.m. to noon

(9:45 arrival time)
Music degrees

POD 3 | 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

(10:45 a.m. arrival time)
Petree Undergraduate degrees

POD 4 | 1:30 to 2:45 p.m.

(1:15 p.m. arrival time)
PA degrees & Petree Graduate degrees

POD 5 | 2:45 to 4:45 p.m.

(2:30 p.m. arrival time)
Business degrees

POD 6 | 3:45 to 5:45 p.m.

(3:30 p.m. arrival time)
Nursing degrees