CONGRATULATIONS 2021 GRADUATES!
Weinberg college Convocation information
Date: June 13, 2021
Weinberg College's 2021 convocation will be held on Sunday, June 13 at 9:00 a.m at Ryan Field, 1501 Central Street, Evanston. Please direct any questions to wcas-events@northwestern.edu.
Key Details
- When and Where: Convocation at Ryan Field begins at 9:00 a.m., June 13, 2021. Shuttles start at 7:30 a.m. Doors open at 8:00 a.m.
- Graduates will enter the stadium through Gate K and check in at the tables to receive your reader card (how our readers will call your name on stage) and your mask to match your regalia. Late regalia pickup is also inside gate K.
- All Guests, including ADA seating, will enter through gates S, T, M, N, and Q.
- First Aid & Purple Ticket Holders can be found at Gate Q.
- The Info Desk can be found outside of Gate R.
- Please arrive no later than 8:45 a.m. to ensure you are there in time for the start of the celebration.
- Prepare for the Weather: The celebration is in Ryan Field, which is an outdoor venue. You and your guests should prepare for the weather by bringing sunscreen or rain gear. In the case of rain, we remain outside. In case of severe weather, we will communicate through the Weinberg College convocation website and/or at site locations.
- Emergency Messaging: To opt-in to the RAVE system to receive emergency messaging, text “AlertNU” to 226787. This will subscribe you for 365 days. You can opt out at any time by texting “STOP” to the same number. The RAVE emergency messaging system will alert you to any campus emergencies.
- Stage-crossing: Graduates will cross the stage and hear their name read as they are congratulated by the Dean. Professional photographs will be taken of each student on stage. Photography information will be emailed and posted to this page after the event.
- Diploma: Graduates will be given a diploma cover at the ceremony. Diplomas will be mailed in August to the graduate's permanent address as it is listed in CAESAR. Please check CAESAR to ensure your permanent address is correct. Diplomas will not be available on June 13.
- Speaker: The 2021 Convocation Speaker is Samir Mayekar, Deputy Mayor for Neighborhood & Economic Development. Read more about the 2021 Convocation Speaker.
- Share your experiences: Share on Instagram and Twitter with #NU2021 and use @Weinberg College to follow us and tag us on Twitter.
- Live stream: for those students and guests unable to join us in person, we will be live streaming the ceremony. You will soon receive a personalized link to your graduation page to share with other which will include the live stream. We will also make the live stream available at our convocation website.
Watch the 2021 Convocation live stream
COVID-19 Considerations
All visitors to Northwestern’s campus must adhere to the University’s safety protocols, which are based on current public health guidelines. The Illinois Department of Public Health and Northwestern require community members to wear masks indoors and at large outdoor gatherings or events. 2021 Graduates will be provided a matching face mask to wear with your regalia at check-in.
All guests will be required to wear their own face mask to be admitted into Ryan Field. All graduates and guests must also monitor symptoms and avoid campus if they are experiencing COVID-19-related symptoms.
Testing: What to Expect
Testing will not be required, but it is strongly encouraged and offered to 2021 graduates participating in graduation ceremonies. If you have any questions about testing, please email NU-COVID-testing-support@northwestern.edu.
- Rapid Testing Program: Northwestern has a rapid testing partnership with Abbott using their BinaxNOW antigen test and NAVICA mobile app. Rapid testing is available for students, faculty, staff, and visitors who are actively engaging with our community.
- Complete a rapid test: at the Jacobs Center at 2001 Sheridan Rd. in Evanston or 345 E. Superior Street in Chicago. Testing sites are open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The test is a simple nasal swab that takes less than 15 minutes onsite, and results are available within 30 minutes via the NAVICA app or website. Please follow the steps below:
- Please download the NAVICA app at App Store or Google Play. If your phone does not support the NAVICA app or if you are experiencing technical difficulties, you can use the NAVICA websiteas an alternative way to access your account.
- Once you have created your NAVICA account, you are all set to visit to the testing site. When you arrive onsite, please inform a staff member that you are a visitor.
The staff member will direct you to the Technical Support Center where you will fill out a consent form and complete the final steps to connect your account to the University.
Download the Commencement App
The Graduation Weekend 2021 Guidebook is live and ready-to-use. Enable push notifications so you can get the most up-to-date information about events, ceremonies, and start time reminders. Connect to the Guidebook on any device.
Regalia
For those who ordered regalia and had it shipped to the Norris Bookstore, it is now available for pickup. The bookstore pick-up hours are as follows:
- Monday, June 7 – Thursday, June, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Friday, June 11, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Regalia that is not picked up by Friday, June 11 at 2 p.m. will be available for pickup and pay on site at Ryan Field before the ceremony. We highly recommend students do not wait to pick up at the ceremony, as regalia arrives folded, it benefits from being steamed before wearing. You should plan to pick up regalia on site only if you absolutely cannot make the pickup times at the Norris Bookstore.
Please remember that when picking up at the Norris Bookstore, you will need to pay for your regalia and any accessories you ordered. If you have any questions, please contact the Norris Bookstore at 847.491.3992.
Double check your convocation tickets
To enter Weinberg College convocation, all guests must have electronic tickets displayed on a mobile device for scanning. On June 4, you should have received an email from the NU Ticket Office with a link to your guest’s tickets. Please be sure to check your spam folders if you have not received them. Please forward these tickets to your guests.
There will be an information desk at the venue if you do not have a device to display your tickets. One device can be used to display all tickets for scanning. If you have questions about your tickets, please contact the Commencement Office.
Parking and Transportation
Once you are on campus, some parking is available at Ryan Field. Please see the Commencement Guidebook App for details or the Evanston campus map. If you park on campus, there will be campus shuttles that traverse a 7-stop loop north on Sheridan from campus to Ryan Field. Shuttles begin one hour prior to Ryan Field event start times. Plan travel time accordingly - shuttles take longer with stops and traffic on this day. Masks are required on shuttles.
Personalized Webpages
All graduating students will receive an email before graduation with a shareable link to their personalized webpage.
Student pages feature the following:
- The livestream of the Weinberg College Class of 2021 convocation ceremony
- The livestream of the 163nd Northwestern University commencement ceremony
- An acknowledgement of academic achievements, including degrees, majors, and honors
- Special materials to help share achievements with family and friends on social media
Department and Program Events
Several of our departments and programs may host events to recognize and congratulate students. Check with your department or program for details.
The 163rd Annual Commencement information
Date: June 14, 2021
More information regarding the format of the 163rd Annual Commencement will be released as Northwestern continues to comply with state and federal recommendations for events.