The Fall 2021 Commencement included the first ever graduate-only ceremony for 820 doctoral, master’s and certificate students.
“For the last few years, UNC Charlotte has graduated more than 100 doctoral students annually,” said Graduate School Associate Dean Katherine Hall-Hertel. “This shows the growth we’ve had in our research enterprise.”
The fall graduating students represented all seven academic colleges where, previously, they would have participated in their college’s commencement along with undergraduates. The move to a single ceremony for graduate level students allows for more focus on their achievement of a graduate degree.
This ceremony, like all others at UNC Charlotte, reflected the realities of the pandemic. Graduating students, advisors and guests wore masks throughout the ceremony. This precaution allowed the event to take place in person.
“This fall we allowed students who graduated in a previous term affected by COVID to be hooded in the commencement ceremony with current graduates,” Hall-Hertel said. “14 doctoral students made this request, demonstrating the importance of the in-person hooding as recognition for our doctoral students.”