NJIT to Honor Class of 2021 With In-Person and Virtual Commencement

New Jersey Institute of Technology will honor the Class of 2021, in addition to August and December graduates from 2020, through in-person ceremonies on May 12 and 14, and a hybrid ceremony streamed live on May 18.

The uniqueness of this year's ceremony is due to local, national and worldwide activity restrictions necessitated by the COVID pandemic.

Wednesday, May 12: Doctoral graduates will gather in person at the Wellness and Event Center. Doors open at 4 p.m. and the event begins at 5 p.m. Each candidate may bring up to two guests. Candidates and their guests will be assigned to specific locations on the floor of the NJIT Wellness and Events Center. Tickets are non-transferrable. The ceremony will be filmed and presented as part of the formal ceremony on May 18.

Friday, May 14: Bachelors and masters graduates will meet in person at outdoor locations around the NJIT campus, and then proceed to the stage in the Wellness and Events Center for the presentation of candidates. Guests are not allowed due to COVID restrictions. The rain date is Saturday, May 15. Graduates will be notified about the exact times and locations by email and through the commencement website. This will also be filmed and presented as part of the formal ceremony on May 18.

Tuesday, May 18: There will be a limited in-person ceremony at 5 p.m., streamed live at njit.edu. The ceremony will feature executive remarks and a keynote address, plus recordings of the May 12 and May 14 events. This hybrid event is available to all via the njit.edu.

Commencement parking is in the Summit Street garage. All candidates must wear their NJIT regalia.

Kimberly Bryant, founder and CEO of Black Girls Code, will give a commencement address during the May 18 hybrid event and will receive an honorary degree. Black Girls Code is a non-profit organization teaching computer science skills to Black females from ages 7-11 and emphasizing entrepreneurship. Bryant studied electrical engineering at Vanderbilt University. 

Honorary degrees also will be conferred on Rev. Edwin Leahy O.S.B., headmaster of St. Benedict's Preparatory School in Newark, and Lawrence A. Raia '65, partner at Raia Properties and an NJIT Board of Trustees member since 2012.

Please visit the official NJIT 2021 commencement page for further information about graduation, photography, regalia, schedules and more.