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Commencement 2021: Binghamton University features in-person Grad Walks and inaugural pharmacy ceremony

Maya Kallman ’21, intern in the Office of the President, who will receive double degrees in business administration and graphic design, and Zachary Herz ’21, student representative to the Binghamton University Council, who will receive a degree in psychology, pose with the large University seal following the taping of the 2021 Virtual Commencement Ceremony. Maya Kallman ’21, intern in the Office of the President, who will receive double degrees in business administration and graphic design, and Zachary Herz ’21, student representative to the Binghamton University Council, who will receive a degree in psychology, pose with the large University seal following the taping of the 2021 Virtual Commencement Ceremony.
Maya Kallman ’21, intern in the Office of the President, who will receive double degrees in business administration and graphic design, and Zachary Herz ’21, student representative to the Binghamton University Council, who will receive a degree in psychology, pose with the large University seal following the taping of the 2021 Virtual Commencement Ceremony. Image Credit: Jonathan Cohen.
By Katie Ellis
May 07, 2021

Commencement 2021 at Binghamton University will be a hybrid event, with a virtual conferral ceremony to premiere at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 13, on the University’s YouTube page, and a flurry of “Grad Walks” at the University Events Center to be held from May 13 to May 16.

The School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences will hold an in-person ceremony for the more than 50 members of its inaugural graduating class at 10 a.m. Friday, May 14, in the Anderson Center’s Osterhout Concert Theater. Attendance is limited to two guests per graduate and all mask and social distancing guidelines will be followed.

All other graduates have signed up for one of nearly 30 scheduled Grad Walks that will allow them to gather in the Events Center, listen to brief congratulatory remarks and cross the stage, have their name announced and pose for a graduation photo.

Each Grad Walk participant is allowed two guests, who must have tickets to enter the Events Center. All graduating students and guests, no matter what ceremony they are attending, must show one of the following:

  1. Proof of vaccination.
  2. Proof of negative results from a PCR test within 72 hours of the ceremony
  3. Proof of negative results from an antigen test within 6 hours of the ceremony
  4. Proof of completed immunization

Acceptable forms of proof include mobile application, screenshot, image or paper form.

Individuals who have fully recovered from a lab-confirmed case of COVID-19 in the last three months and who do not have any recent or current symptoms are not required to produce a recent negative diagnostic test result but must provide proof of illness and recovery (e.g., proof of a prior positive test result or completed order of isolation within the last 90 days).

The University encourages all guests to arrive to campus with their PCR or antigen test results, but if that is not possible, arrangements have been made to administer rapid result antigen tests to guests in the University’s testing center in the University Union. Guests requiring tests are asked to register at https://form.jotform.com/211178398014153 if they have not already done so. Results are typically available within 30 minutes of receiving the test and guests will be notified when their results are ready. Anyone requiring a test is encouraged to do so at least one hour prior to the ceremony they are attending to insure they can arrive to their ceremony on time.

Any individual who fails to present a negative diagnostic test result or proof of immunization as required will be denied entry to the ceremony. The full guidance issued by New York state can be found online.

The Grad Walks and pharmacy ceremony will also be livestreamed for those unable to attend. Visit the University YouTube channel for the livestream Grad Walks and the Anderson Center’s YouTube channel for the pharmacy ceremony.

The full Commencement schedule and student information can be found on the University’s Commencement website.

Schedule of events

Thursday, May 13

  • Doctoral 1 9-10 a.m.
  • Doctoral 2 11 a.m.-noon
  • Harpur 1 4-4:30 p.m.
  • Harpur 2 5:30-6 p.m.
  • Harpur 3 7-7:30 p.m.
  • Virtual Conferral 7:30 p.m. on YouTube

Friday, May 14

  • Decker 1 8:30-9 a.m.
  • Decker 2 10-10:30 a.m.
  • PharmD 10-11:15 a.m. at the Anderson Center
  • Harpur 4 11:30 a.m.-noon
  • Harpur 5 1-1:30 p.m.
  • Harpur 6 2:30-3 p.m.
  • Harpur 7 4-4:30 p.m.
  • Watson 1 5:30-6 p.m.
  • Watson 2 7-7:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 15

  • SOM 1 8:30-9 a.m.
  • SOM 2 10-10:30 a.m.
  • Harpur 8 11:30 a.m.-noon
  • Harpur 9 1-1:30 p.m.
  • Harpur 10 2:30-3 p.m.
  • Harpur 11 4-4:30 p.m.
  • Harpur 12 5:30-6 p.m.

Sunday, May 16

  • Watson 3 8:30-9 a.m.
  • Watson 4 10-10:30 a.m.
  • Watson 5 11:30 a.m.-noon
  • CCPA 1 1-1:30 p.m.
  • CCPA 2 2:30-3 p.m.
  • SOM 4 4-4:30 p.m.
  • SOM 3 5:30-6 p.m.

The occurrence of all Commencement activities will depend on NYS guidelines and number of COVID-19 cases on campus at the time of the event. Guests who are making travel and hotel arrangements are encouraged to make reservations that are refundable.