Liberty University Online Academy Graduation Ceremony
Commencement 2021
May 15, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. EST on the Academic Lawn at Liberty University.
Graduation registration is NOW CLOSED. Ceremonies will be available online for those unable to attend in person. Please visit www.liberty.edu/Commencement to stream live on Saturday, May 15 at 9:00 a.m. EST.
*ALL Graduates and Guests will be required to have a ticket to attend. If you do not have tickets, you will not be allowed to participate in LUOA’s on-campus Graduation Ceremony.
Frequently Asked Questions:
When is Graduation?
Saturday, May 15, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. EST. Gates will open at 8:00 a.m.
We encourage you to arrive early to allow time as we will have certain restrictions and regulations we need to follow.
Where is Graduation?
LUOA’s Graduation will be on the Academic Lawn at Liberty University. Graduates and their guests will enter the Academic Lawn from the Academic Commons Parking Garage side (next to Reber Thomas Dining Hall).
Here is a link to a Liberty Campus Map: https://map.liberty.edu/
Please note that the best way to enter the Campus in on Liberty University Drive (Through the Tunnel that Connects to Wards Road (29 Business). You will then make a right at the light on to Regents Parkway when you are on campus and the Academic Commons Parking Garage will be on your left.
Where do I park?
Graduates and their guests will park in the Academic Commons Parking Garage.
Who needs a ticket to get into Graduation?
EVERYONE. The Graduate and their guests will be required to have a ticket to enter Graduation. There will be no admittance if someone does not have a ticket.
If you RSVP’d before registration ended, your tickets were already emailed to you.
Where do I get Graduation Regalia?
Students are able to purchase graduation regalia, class rings, and more through Herff Jones. To order these items, follow these steps:
- Go to herffjones.com
- Enter in “LU Online Academy”
- Click on shop grad products
- Scroll down and click on shop individual products including CAP and GOWN
- Scroll to the bottom of the page where you will find“unit – includes cap, gown, and tassel” (for cap and gown only orders)
If you have further questions in regards to Regalia, please contact LUOA’s Herff Jones Customer Representative, Jay Roudabush, directly:
Phone Number: (804) 350-8692
Email Address: jroudabush@herffjones.com
What can I bring into Graduation?
Liberty University has a Clear Bag Policy. Please keep this in mind when preparing what you will bring with you. There will be no exceptions to this policy.
Are Face Masks Required?
Per the Governor’s executive order, face masks are required for all graduates and guests that attend in person.
What COVID-19 restrictions will be in effect at the ceremony?
In order to remain in compliance with the updated restrictions, we are limiting crowd sizes while giving each graduate the chance to walk and celebrate with their families.
Families will be seated together in pods of 6 people and socially distanced by 10 feet.
The Academic Lawn will be cleaned and sanitized after each ceremony based on requirements in the State of Virginia’s guidelines.
Will food and beverage be available for sale at the Academic Lawn?
No. Per the Governor’s mandate, we are not permitted to sell food and drink in the event spaces. We will be providing a bottle of water to each attendee and University dining locations will be available on campus outside of the venues.
Will there be access to restrooms?
Yes, certain Liberty University buildings bordering the lawn will be open for bathrooms and guests will be permitted in and out of the lawn to use them.
What are the ADA accommodations?
If you are need of assistance because of ADA accommodations, park on the 3rd Level of the Academic Commons Parking Garage. This is a direct entry to the Academic Lawn. From there, special representatives and ushers will ensure they help you with whatever needs you may have.
Will Graduates line up and process in?
No, in accordance with the guidelines from Virginia’s Governor, Graduates are not permitted to Gather and Process in.
When they enter the Academic Lawn, they will be ushered to special seats up front that are 10 feet apart in accordance with the guidelines.
Where do guests go when they enter?
Graduates will be ushered to their seats and guests will be ushered to the pods of seats that are set out for them with appropriate distancing.
How will the lawn be set-up?
The stage will be set in the front of the Montview Student Union and seats will be spread out in front in adherence with COVID-19 Social Distancing Restrictions.
What is the rain plan and how will I be notified?
If heavy rain or impending thunderstorms are in the forecast, University leadership will make a decision on whether or not LUOA’s ceremony can be held as soon as possible. If there is heavy rain or the high risk of a thunderstorm, the impacted ceremonies will be moved to Sunday, May 16.
If a ceremony is moved, the tickets that were previously claimed for the rescheduled ceremony will work at the ceremony on Sunday.
The ceremony will continue if there is light rain or a passing shower with no safety risk and ponchos will be provided.
If there is impending rain in the forecast, please stay tuned to your Liberty email, the Commencement website, Commencement social media for announcements, and LUOA’s Instagram and Facebook.
Who is eligible to graduate?
In order for a student to qualify for participation in the graduation ceremonies, they must be considered a full-time senior by February 1 of the graduating year. For example, a student who is looking to participate in LUOA’s 2021 commencement exercises must be considered a full-time senior by February 1, 2021. Students and parents may contact their academic advisor in order to determine if they are eligible to participate.
More Information
As graduation weekend approaches, we will send all graduating seniors and their parents important information concerning the weekend activities. Please be sure to check your email regularly in the months approaching graduation. For more information concerning graduation weekend, you may refer to the Liberty University Commencement website.
Got further questions?
For further questions, please email OnlineAcademyEvents@liberty.edu