U of M 2021 Spring Commencements Will Be In-Person

The University of Montana officially announced today that two 2021 spring commencement ceremonies will be in-person, but socially distanced. Commencements are scheduled for Saturday, May 1st at Washington-Grizzly Stadium. Only students who RSVP and their invited guests are allowed to attend Commencement ceremonies this year. Each graduating student is limited to four guests, and all attendees will be required to wear masks, socially distance and participate in contact tracing. A livestream of UM Commencement will be available HERE.

Honorary doctorate recipient William “Bill” Franke will be the Commencement speaker for the 9 a.m. ceremony. In 2016, William A. and Carolyn Franke and their family gave UM the largest single gift in its history, a transformative $24 million contribution. The 9 a.m. ceremony will be for students in the:

• College of Humanities & Sciences
• College of Business
• W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation

Aislinn Roux, a three-time UM graduate and daughter of honorary doctorate recipient Bonnie HeavyRunner, will be the speaker for the 2 p.m. ceremony. If you're not familiar with the work and history of Bonnie Combes HeavyRunner, she founded the Native American Studies program at the U of M and pioneered the creation of the Payne Family Native American Center on campus. To say she was a big deal is an understatement. The 2 p.m. ceremony will be for students in the:

• Phyllis J. Washington College of Education
• College of Health
• College of the Arts and Media
• Missoula College
• Master of Public Administration program.

UM will present two honorary doctorates this year. UM benefactor and respected businessman Franke will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Business. The late Heavy Runner, a tribal court judge and staunch advocate for Native American causes, will receive a posthumous Honorary Doctorate of Law.

For more information, visit the about spring 2021 Commencement website or email any questions to graduation@umontana.edu. CONGRATS to our 2021 graduates, no more Zoom breakout rooms!