Campus News

Watch Q&A With President Capilouto About the Special Tradition of Commencement

Q&A with President Eli Capilouto

LEXINGTON, KY. (May 10, 2021) UKNow sat down with University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto to talk about what Commencement ceremonies mean to him.

Commencement is a time-honored tradition at UK, an opportunity to celebrate what matters most: student success. It is also a time to honor the contributions of those who helped them achieve what’s possible.

It is a time when we celebrate the stories interwoven with a common thread of uncommon resolve and compassion.

For the past year, to protect the health and safety of the UK community, the university celebrated while physically distanced. The institution announced in March that May 2021 ceremonies will take place in person and will honor students who graduated in 2020 as well as May 2021. Ten ceremonies will happen over the weekend of May 14-16, at the following times:

May 2021 Commencement Ceremony Schedule

Friday, May 14

9 a.m.

College of Education

College of Medicine

Noon

College of Fine Arts

College of Public Health

College of Social Work

College of Pharmacy

3 p.m.

College of Nursing

College of Health Sciences

College of Design

6 p.m.

College of Engineering

Saturday, May 15

9 a.m.

College of Arts and Sciences #1

*Humanities: African American and Africana Studies, English, Modern and Classical Languages, Literatures and Languages, History, International Studies, Linguistics, Philosophy, Spanish / Hispanic Studies, Writing, Rhetoric and Digital Media, Foreign Language and International Economics, Classics, German, French, Teaching English as a Second Language, Linguistic Theory and Typology, Teaching World Languages, Creative Writing

*Natural, Physical and Mathematical Sciences: Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Astronomy, Earth and Environmental Studies, Geological Sciences, Mathematics, Mathematical Economics, Neuroscience, Statistics, Applied Statistics 

Noon

College of Arts and Sciences #2

*Social Sciences: Anthropology, Economics, Environmental and Sustainability Studies, Gender and Women’s Studies, Geography, Health, Society and Populations, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, US Culture and Business Practices, Liberal Studies, Applied Anthropology, Digital Mapping

3 p.m.

Gatton College of Business and Economics #1

*Marketing, Management, General Business, Supply Chain Management

6 p.m.

Gatton College of Business and Economics #2

*Accounting, Economics, Finance, Business Administration (Masters & P.h.D.)

Sunday, May 16

9 a.m.

College of Communication and Information

The Martin School of Public Policy and Administration

The Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce

Noon

College of Agriculture, Food and Environment  

Due to limited seating, tickets are needed for entry to the ceremonies. Tickets were reserved by the May 7 deadline.

For those unable to attend, all ceremonies will be livestreamed on the university's YouTube channel, which may be accessed via the UKNow homepage, or the UK Commencement website May 14-16.

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.