Dec. 11: Minnesota State Mankato to Hold Fall 2021 Commencement Ceremonies
Saturday, December 11, 2021
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Bresnan Arena, Taylor Center
Mankato, Minn. – Minnesota State University, Mankato will award 2,276 degrees to 1,941 students at the end of the fall 2021 semester, with approximately 700 students planning to participate in commencement ceremonies scheduled for 9 a.m. and noon Saturday, Dec. 11 in Taylor Center’s Bresnan Arena on the Minnesota State Mankato campus.
(NOTE TO EDITORS: The number of graduates does not equal the number of degrees because some students earn more than one degree.)
Graduates of the College of Arts & Humanities, College of Business and College of Science, Engineering and Technology will participate in a 9 a.m. ceremony, and graduates of the College of Allied Health and Nursing, College of Education and College of Social and Behavioral Sciences will participate in a noon ceremony.
Saturday’s commencement ceremonies are Minnesota State Mankato’s first in-person ceremonies since December 2019 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Virtual commencement ceremonies were held in May and December 2020 and in May 2021.
Saturday’s events have been modified for safety as a result of recent increases in positivity rates and the recently revised Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recommendations for large-scale events. Modifications include:
- Graduates will be allowed up to six guests, who will be seated in pods with increased social distancing between guest pods;
- Signage / stanchions will mark off one-way traffic when entering and exiting the Taylor Center;
- Guests are encouraged to test, consistent with MDH/CDC recommendations when traveling;
- Guests will be asked to conduct a self-screening health survey and stay home if unwell. Minnesota State Mankato offers live-streamed commencement ceremonies for family and friends unable to attend in-person;
- Face coverings (to be worn over both the nose and mouth) will be required of all attendees, as they have been in all indoor spaces on campus all semester.
Advanced degrees to be awarded by Minnesota State Mankato at the conclusion of the fall semester include seven doctor of education degrees, four doctor of nursing practice degrees and one doctor of school psychology degree.
Graduate degrees to be awarded include 39 master of arts degrees, 15 master of accounting degrees, 14 master of arts in teaching degrees, 13 master of business administration degrees, four master of fine arts degrees, two master of public administration degrees, 182 master of science degrees, 19 master of science in nursing degrees, 25 master of social work degrees, two professional science master’s degrees, 45 specialist in educational leadership degrees and 126 graduate certificates.
Degrees to be awarded at the undergraduate level included 53 bachelor of arts degrees, 10 bachelor of business degrees, 16 bachelor of fine arts degrees, 1,496 bachelor of science degrees, 28 bachelor of science in integrated engineering degrees, seven bachelor of science in civil engineering degrees, seven bachelor of science in computer engineering degrees, 19 bachelor of science in electrical engineering degrees, nine bachelor of science in mechanical engineering degrees, 41 bachelor of science in social work degrees, 27 associate of arts degrees and 65 undergraduate certificates.
Undergraduate students receiving recognition included 263 students graduating summa cum laude (3.8 grade point average and higher), 258 students graduating magna cum (minimum grade point average of 3.5 for students admitted before fall 2015; minimum grade point average of 3.6 for students admitted fall 2015 or later) and 238 students graduating cum laude (minimum grade point average of 3.3 for students admitted before fall 2015; minimum grade point average of 3.4 for students admitted fall 2015 or later).
More information about the Minnesota State Mankato fall commencement is at www.mnsu.edu/graduation/.
Minnesota State Mankato, a comprehensive university with 14,546 students, is part of the Minnesota State system, which includes 30 colleges and seven universities.
