Congratulations Class of 2021!

Graduation is a time of celebration for all that you have accomplished and we want to make it a special moment for you. We know how important this graduation ceremony is for you, your family, and your friends. While the pandemic is preventing us from having a typical ceremony like we have had in the past, we hope the Spring 2021 Commencement will help you mark this transition into the next phase of your life. 

Senior Exit Survey

All graduating seniors are required to take the Senior Exit Survey that is part of the Countdown to Graduation Canvas course. Complete before April 2, 2021!

Take the Exit Survey

Spring 2021 Commencement

We are ecstatic to be able to offer an in-person commencement ceremony for Spring + Summer 2021 graduates. We encourage you to ensure that your plans are refundable in case something out of our control causes this plan to change significantly. 

Date: May 7 and 8, 2021
Location: Dennison Memorial Field (no indoor rain location)

In the spirit of hosting a fun ceremony that still meets the safety measures established by public health officials, and knowing that COVID-19 may cause us to alter these plans, here is the idea: 

  • On May 7 and 8, after final exams are complete, multiple in-person graduation ceremonies, will be held outdoors and physically distanced on Dennison Memorial Field. Fewer than 60 graduates will be celebrated and individually recognized at each ceremony.  
  • Each graduate will be permitted ONLY TWO GUESTS. We know this is a big change from previous years, but this is the only way to accomplish an in-person ceremony safely. The event will be ticketed and this rule will be strictly enforced.  
  • The ceremony will be live-streamed, as always, so friends and families who can’t attend in person can tune in to watch on Facebook.  

Due to pandemic restrictions,  

  • Masks will be required throughout the ceremony; 
  • Food and drink will not be permitted during the ceremony;  
  • Gathering before and after the ceremonies will be limited; 
  • Childcare will not be available.  

The ceremonies will include these majors as follows. Students who registered to graduate late, or have double majors, may be in a different ceremony than expected, so they can confirm by emailing president@fortlewis.edu. Graduates should arrive at the Student Life Center. dressed in cap and gown, 30 minutes before their ceremony.

Friday, May 7, 2021 

  • Ceremony A: 12 p.m.
    • Programs: Exercise & Health Promotion, Exercise Physiology, Exercise Science, Exercise Specialist, Public Health, Sport Administration
    • Speaker: Sara Newman 
  • Ceremony B: 2:30 p.m.
    • Programs: Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, Physics, Pre-Health Certificate;
    • Speaker: Shere Byrd 
  • Ceremony C: 5 p.m.
    • Communication Design, English, History, Journalism & Multimedia Studies, Marketing, Studio Art, Theatre, Writing;
    • Speaker: Andy Gulliford 

Saturday, May 8, 2021 

  • Ceremony D: 9 a.m.
    • Programs: Accounting, Business Administration, Economics
    • Speaker: Wade Litt 
  • Ceremony E: 11:30 a.m.
    • Programs: Master of Arts in Education, Teacher Leadership and Teacher Licensure, Adventure Education, Early Childhood Education, Educational Studies, Elementary Education, K –12 Education, Philosophy
    • Speaker: Beth Dorman 
  • Ceremony F: 2 p.m.:
    • Programs: Criminology & Justice Studies, Psychology, Sociology, Sociology & Human Services 
    • Speaker: Brian Burke 
  • Ceremony G: 4:30 p.m.:
    • Anthropology, Computer Engineering, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Geology, Mathematics, Native American & Indigenous Studies, Political Science, and virtual graduates.
    • Speaker: Veronika Furst

Ticketing 

We know that limiting tickets to two guests per graduate is challenging, but safety is still our primary goal. Additional tickets may become available if our local public health officials change the size for safe outdoor gatherings, but we won’t know specifics until closer to the date of the ceremony. Paper tickets will be distributed to students on April 27 and 28, from 12-2 p.m., by the flagpole in front of Reed Library. Two tickets are reserved for each graduate, so getting there earlier or later doesn't change the availability of tickets. If graduates can't make it to the initial pick up, their tickets will be held at the Info Desk in the Student Union, or at Will Call at the south entrance to Dennison Field at the time of their graduation.  

Complete this two-minute form if you’d like to request additional tickets or let us know about accommodations for your guests. 

Request Graduation Tickets

Virtual Commencement 

If you are unable to participate in in-person commencement, we have a virtual option just for you. Similar to the virtual ceremonies in 2020, you can submit a photo or video of yourself in your cap and gown, and your name will be read at the G ceremony at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 8. Information was included in the Commencement Canvas Course about this option; or you can contact Ashley Muckway. 

Shoutouts

Prior to this year's commencement ceremony, we will be displaying photos and congratulation notes from our graduates' friends and family on social media and the FLC homepage. Want to congratulate your friends, or are others ready to congratulate you?

Submit online by April 21!  

Submit a Shoutout

What's the difference between graduation and Commencement?

Graduation: At FLC, you have not officially "graduated" until the Registrar confirms that you have completed all of your degree requirements and the College awards your degree. This process is not generally complete until about 6-8 weeks after the semester has ended.

Commencement: Commencement is the ceremony where we celebrate students who are graduating. Graduating students invite their friends and families, wear their caps and gowns, walk across the stage, shake hands with the College president, and celebrate. Participating in Commencement is sometimes called "walking", which refers to tradition of walking across the stage to be recognized for your achievement.  

  • “Walking”-- participating in Commencement -- is strictly ceremonial, and does NOT guarantee that a degree will be awarded. A student becomes a graduate only once they have successfully completed the requirements of their degree program and their degree is conferred by the Registrar's Office. 

Degree Conferral and Diplomas 

The Registrar’s Office will determine whether each student has fulfilled their degree requirements once final grades have been submitted and processed for the Spring 2021 semester. If you have completed your degree requirements, your final transcript and diploma will be mailed to you eight weeks AFTER the end of the semester (unless you have holds on your account).

If you have not completed all of your degree requirements, you will be notified by email.

Approved for Graduation? 

You can check the status of your application for graduation on WebOPUS:

  • Log in to WebOPUS
  • Click "Student Services"
  • Click "Student Records"
  • Click "Advising Information"
    • Select the term during which you are intending to graduate
    • Your status will be listed under "Status of Application to Graduate"