USI to hold in-person Commencement Exercises for Class of 2020, 2021 Saturday, December 18

The University of Southern Indiana will hold four Fall Commencement ceremonies on Saturday, December 18, in the Screaming Eagles Arena.

Two ceremonies will recognize members of the Class of 2020 who were unable to participate in their regularly scheduled Commencement Exercises due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, while two ceremonies will recognize members of the Class of 2021.

All ceremonies will be held in-person. Tickets will be required for guests and each graduate will be allowed six guests. Graduates and guests will be required to follow safety protocols including wearing a face covering, practicing good hand hygiene and maintaining adequate physical distancing while inside the Arena. A livestream of each ceremony will be available at USI.edu/watch-commencement.

Class of 2020 Commencement Exercises

For the class of 2020, Commencement Exercises for the Romain College of Business and the College of Liberal Arts will begin at 9 a.m. The ceremony for the College of Nursing and Health Professions and the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education will be held at noon.

Students who completed their degree programs in the Spring of 2020 and the Fall of 2020 were extended the opportunity in August to participate in an in-person Commencement ceremony. A total of 335 members of the Class of 2020 will participate in these special ceremonies.

Ronald S. Rochon, PhD, USI President, will deliver Commencement remarks during both ceremonies.

Class of 2021 Commencement Exercises

For the class of 2021, Commencement Exercises for the Romain College of Business and the College of Liberal Arts will begin at 3 p.m. The ceremony for the College of Nursing and Health Professions and the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education will be held at 6 p.m.

Dr. Silvia Rode, Professor of German and the recipient of the 2020 Distinguished Professor Award, will present the commencement address at the 3 p.m. ceremony. Rode joined the USI faculty in 2007 as an Associate Professor and Chair of World Languages and Cultures. During her tenure as department chair, she spearheaded the creation of a master's degree and two professional certification programs, in addition to teaching undergraduate and graduate courses and advising students and faculty. Rode is also an accomplished researcher, author and presenter, having published two books and currently working on a third covering the cultural and social experiences of German prisoners-of-war at Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky, during the Second World War.

Jenn Horn, Instructor in English and the recipient of the 2020 H. Lee Cooper Core Curriculum Award, will present the commencement address at the 6 p.m. ceremony. A member of the Department of English since 2012, Horn is a First-Year Experience Coordinator for the College of Liberal Arts and has taught courses including English Composition, Humanities, Gender Studies, Mythology and Folklore. She also is a member of the Board of Directors of Demolition City Roller Derby and regularly volunteers as a test proctor and senior project judge at F. J. Reitz High School.

In the ceremonies for the Class of 2021, 760 students will be eligible to receive master's degrees, post-bachelor certificates, bachelor's degrees and associate degrees. As part of the commencement ceremonies, 104 students are graduating with academic honors: 11 will graduate summa cum laude, 34 magna cum laude, and 59 cum laude. Of the graduates, eight are University Honors Scholars-students who have successfully completed the Honors Program-and can be recognized by the white honor cords worn with their regalia.

All planning to attend are strongly advised to review the Screaming Eagles Arena Prohibited Items and Security Policy at USI.edu/arena-security. Tickets are required for entry.

Follow the ceremonies on social media with the hashtag #USIgrad on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.