Commencement

Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 Commencement

Western Illinois University students who are scheduled to graduate in Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 will be recognized at in-person commencement ceremonies Friday-Sunday, May 13-15. To avoid limited indoor audience participation due to protocols currently in place and to allow students to invite family and friends, we are moving to outdoor ceremonies; therefore, there will not be commencement ceremonies in December 2021. The Macomb-based ceremonies will be held on Hanson Field (May 13-14), while the Quad Cities-based ceremony will be held at the TaxSlayer Center in Moline (May 15). Students will be able to attend the ceremony for their program at either the Macomb or Quad Cities commencement location, regardless of which campus they primarily attended.

Friday, May 13

5:00 p.m. - Graduate Commencement Ceremony, Hanson Field*

The undergraduate Commencement ceremonies in Macomb on May 14 will be organized based on the student's primary major college:

Saturday, May 14

9:00 a.m. - Hanson Field*

  • College of Arts and Sciences
  • College of Business and Technology
  • General Studies and Interdisciplinary Studies Degree Programs

1:30 p.m. - Hanson Field*

  • College of Education and Human Services
  • College of Fine Arts and Communication

*In an effort to protect the turf and track surfaces housed within Hanson Field, footwear guidelines will be instituted for commencement participants. Participants are encouraged to wear “flats” as high heels that have a point with a diameter of less than 2" will not be permitted. Individuals who are found in violation will be asked to change their footwear before they will be allowed to participate in commencement exercises.

Sunday, May 15

1:00 p.m. - Combined Graduate/Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony, TaxSlayer Center, Moline, IL

Additional information, including health and safety protocols, registration, guests and more will be shared during the Spring 2022 semester.

Commencement is the official ceremony to celebrate students' graduation. Degree conferral (graduation) occurs after final grades are posted in the semester for which the student has applied for graduation and all degree requirements have been met.

Live Streaming Video of Commencement Ceremonies

Western Illinois University provides live streaming video of the commencement ceremonies held at the Macomb campus. The live feed will be available approximately 30 minutes before the scheduled start time of each ceremony on WIU's YouTube channel.