Winter 2021 Commencement FAQs
See below for answers to frequently asked questions about Winter 2021 Purdue Commencement events and activities.
What is the Winter 2021 Commencement schedule?
Ceremonies will be held Saturday, December 18 and Sunday, December 19 at Elliott Hall of Music, and will follow the schedule below:
Division I -- Saturday, December 18, 2021, at 9:30 a.m. ET
- Agriculture
- Education
- Engineering
- Liberal Arts
Division II -- Saturday, December 18, 2021, at 2 p.m. ET
- Health and Human Sciences
- Management
- Pharmacy
- Polytechnic Institute
- Science
- Veterinary Medicine
Division III -- Sunday, December 19, 2021, at 9:30 a.m. ET
- Doctor of Philosophy (All Schools/Colleges)
What are acceptable and non-acceptable items for Elliott Hall of Music?
Acceptable Items
- Cameras
- Flowers
- Guests that are 2 and under do not require a ticket
- Service Animals Only
Not Acceptable Items
- Camera bags or tripods
- Balloons
- Beverages or food products-Unless a medical need
- Noisemakers/posters
- Wrapped gifts
- Strollers or car seats
- Alcohol/tobacco/vape
- Emotional Support animals
- Weapons
Do I need to let Purdue know if I plan to participate in Winter 2021 commencement in December?
Yes. The commencement task list will be available on the student myPurdue portal at 8:30 a.m., Friday, September 24, 2021. Those students who declare their intent to participate before 10 p.m., Friday, November 5, 2021 will be permitted to participate in the Saturday, December 18 ceremony. This will not affect the degree award date.
Will my name be read in the Winter 2021 ceremony?
Participating candidates will have their name announced when they are walking across the stage.
If I choose not to attend the ceremony, will my name still be announced?
Unfortunately, only candidates that cross the stage with their orator card will have their name announced.
Can I walk in a future graduation ceremony?
Yes. You may contact commencement@purdue.edu prior to any summer or winter ceremony to arrange participation. Deadlines to request participation and additional information can be found on our Returnee Participation Information page.
Do I need to rent the Purdue cap and gown for my commencement ceremony?
Yes, in order to participate, you must be on the participation list, along with renting a Purdue University custom cap and gown. Our distributor Herff Jones will ship to you the cap and gown, along with a prepaid mailing label for you to mail back you gown and hood if you are a graduate or professional candidate. You should receive your cap and gown within 10 business days of submitting your order, and you must return the gown by December 31.
How can I purchase only the keepsake items (mortarboard, tassel, stole)?
Please reach out to a representative of distributor Herff Jones via email to purchase these items.
**Special note for international addresses** Due to COVID-19, Herff Jones is not currently shipping to international addresses.
What is the deadline for cap and gown rental?
The rental deadline at a discounted price is Friday, November 19 with distributor Herff Jones. The last day to order cap and gown at full price is Friday, November 26. Those interested in rentals after November 26 should check with University Book Store.
Can I get a refund on my cap & gown?
Yes. If you cancel your order prior to receipt or you return it unopened, you can receive a refund. However, we do encourage you to consider renting the cap and gown for your special graduation photos.
How many guest tickets can I receive?
Due to state and county COVID constraints, a maximum of four guest tickets to the Winter 21 commencement ceremonies is permitted per candidate at this time. If the guidelines change closer to the event, it is possible the ticket amount may be increased to one or two additional.
Can I sell or give away any guest tickets that my family doesn't need?
No. Due to social distancing, all guest tickets will be assigned seating. Selling something Purdue provided for free would violate our student code of conduct and could result in disciplinary action that could also jeopardize a graduate’s degree. If you have unused tickets, please notify commencement@purdue.edu so tickets can be reallocated.
Are there any COVID-19 restrictions ceremony visitors should know about?
All visitors need to be fully aware of and completely adhere to the Protect Purdue Plan. In particular, campus face mask policies will be enforced. (Commencement guest speakers will be permitted to remove their masks while speaking at the podium.)
Will the ceremonies be live-streamed?
Yes. Both ceremonies will be available to watch on December 18 on our website at www.purdue.edu/commencement.
Is tailgating permitted the weekend of graduation?
Due to COVID restrictions, no tailgating will be permitted on campus.
When can I expect to receive my diploma?
Diplomas will be mailed four-six weeks following the end of the winter term. Please provide a diploma address through the commencement task list by December 18. If you do not provide a diploma address, your diploma will be sent to your permanent address on file.
Who do I contact if I haven't received my diploma?
If you still haven’t received your diploma after February 4, 2022, you can contact Commencement staff via email, making sure to include your PUID number so that we can investigate.
Why isn't my major printed on my diploma?
Per Purdue University regulations, very few majors are part of the degree name. Your degree name only is printed on the diploma. Majors, minors and areas of concentration will appear on your transcript.
Why did I receive only one diploma when I completed two degrees?
Those who complete more than one major within the same college receive one degree and one diploma. All majors, minors and areas of concentration will appear on your transcripts.
When should I expect to see my degree posted on my transcript?
Our goal is to post this information by Wednesday, January 5. We can only post degrees for those candidates who were cleared by their college.
Does Purdue allow students to only walk with "their class"?
No. Students routinely elect to participate in a ceremony with students they didn’t enter college with for a variety of reasons, including early completion, delayed completion and travel constraints. We ensure that each traditional in-person ceremony looks the same, with a personal recognition of each participating graduate.
Does this ceremony information also apply to Purdue Northwest, Purdue Fort Wayne, Polytechnic Statewide, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), Purdue Global?
No. It is for Purdue West Lafayette only. Candidates should visit the websites of each campus for campus-specific graduation information.