It means that while we will offer some speeches and students walking across the stage, the event will be slightly modified to ensure safety procedures are followed including but not limited to no hand shaking, no processional, masks will be required (other than when posing for individual professional socially distanced photos) and there is a strictly enforced limit on guests.
Cancellation due to weather – in the event of severe weather, all ceremonies will be cancelled and not rescheduled. Graduates will then be invited to a May 2022 ceremony.
Updated 10/6/21
Cancellation due to increased COVID-19 restrictions – in the event that the State of Illinois imposes increased COVID-19 restrictions, the ceremonies will be cancelled. Graduates will then be invited to a May 2022 ceremony.
Updated 10/6/21
No. We heard from our community that the majority of graduates prefer a safe in-person option and will not produce a virtual event. However, the event will be live streamed so that family and friends can watch from anywhere across the world.
No large bags are allowed in the stadium for graduates or guests.
Guide to permitted and prohibited bags (PDF).
Approved bags:
Prohibited bags:
No strollers are allowed.
The university will allow up to 8 guests per graduate and the event will be ticketed. There will be no modifying of this ticket rule for any reason. All guests one (1) year or older require a ticket for admission. The event will be live streamed so that family and friends can watch from anywhere across the world.
Updated 10/6/21
Added 10/6/21
You MUST submit your RSVP by November 30 to be eligible for student and guest tickets. Your 8 guest e-tickets will be made available December 6. E-tickets are accessible in your MY HUSKIES Account with Ticketmaster via your student account (you must use your ZID@students.niu.edu to access).
Transfer your tickets to your guests by clicking “Manage My Tickets” and entering each guests’ email address. Your guest/s will receive an email to claim their e-ticket and download the QR code to their phone.
Have your guests save their ticket QR code to their phone prior to arriving.
Added 10/6/21
Please send their ticket to another guest from your party who can show both tickets upon entry.
Yes, you will need a student ticket. This does not count toward your 8 guest tickets. You MUST submit your RSVP by November 30 to be eligible for student and guest tickets. Your ticket will be added to your My Huskies account on December 2.
Added 10/6/21
No. While we understand the challenge in providing limited tickets, we hope that all graduates will understand and respect this decision.
Updated 3/10/21
The graduation fee is consistent with the practice of institutions across the state who charge a graduation fee to cover the cost of diploma covers, validating and printing degrees, etc. The fee does not cover the cost of regalia.
For your name to appear in the commencement ceremony program, you will need to apply to graduate according to the deadline set by Registration and Records.
Please note, your name will not appear at all if you have a FERPA hold (which forbids the university from releasing your name in any public context) set up in your MyNIU privacy settings. You will need to request a FERPA change before graduate application deadlines.
No. Diplomas will be mailed directly from the vendor. This is estimated to begin in mid-January 2022 for students who have met all their graduation requirements. Further, please note that you must clear any monetary or other obligations to the university to receive your diploma. You can check diploma status after 6-8 weeks.
Updated 10/6/21