College graduations around the Pine Belt: What to know about the ceremonies

Mina Corpuz, Mississippi Clarion Ledger
·4 min read

Colleges and universities in the Pine Belt area will honor graduates with in-person graduation ceremonies.

University of Southern Mississippi, William Carey University, Jones College and Pearl River Community College plan to host ceremonies.

Here is a look at when and where the ceremonies will be held.

University of Mississippi graduates celebrate after receiving their diploma during a previous spring graduation ceremony at Reed Green Coliseum in Hattiesburg.
University of Mississippi graduates celebrate after receiving their diploma during a previous spring graduation ceremony at Reed Green Coliseum in Hattiesburg.

University of Southern Mississippi

The university has campuses in Hattiesburg and Long Beach, as well as several locations on the Gulf Coast for marine science.

Four graduation ceremonies will celebrate the class of 2022. Here is the schedule for commencement ceremonies:

- Graduate commencement: May 12, 6 p.m., Bernard Reed Green Coliseum on campus, 112 M.K. Turk Circle, Hattiesburg

- Undergraduate commencement for all schools except the College of Arts and Sciences: May 13, 9 a.m., Bernard Reed Green Coliseum on campus, 112 M.K. Turk Circle, Hattiesburg

- College of Arts and Sciences undergraduate commencement: May 13, 2 p.m., Bernard Reed Green Coliseum on campus, 112 M.K. Turk Circle, Hattiesburg

- Coast-based undergraduate and graduate commencement: May 14, 3 p.m., Mississippi Coast Coliseum, 2350 Beach Blvd., Biloxi

The University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg
The University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg

There will be no commencement speakers, a university spokesperson said.

Tickets are required to attend, and they will be distributed through the gradates.

The commencement ceremonies will be livestreamed on the university's website at www.usm.edu/registrar/commencement.

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William Carey University

The university has campuses in Hattiesburg, Biloxi and Baton Rouge.

There will be three commencement ceremonies for all degrees and campuses based on what college or school a student's major is in.

A ceremony for the School of Pharmacy took place Saturday at First Baptist Church Gulfport.

Here is the schedule for upcoming commencement ceremonies:

- School of Education: May 13, 10:30 a.m., Temple Baptist Church, 5220 Old Hwy 11, Hattiesburg

- All colleges and schools except School of Pharmacy, School of Education and College of Osteopathic Medicine: May 13, 2:30 p.m., Temple Baptist Church, 5220 Old Hwy 11, Hattiesburg

- College of Osteopathic Medicine: May 21, 10 a.m., Thomas Fine Arts Auditorium on campus, 710 William Carey Parkway, Hattiesburg

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The commencement speaker of the May 13 School of Education graduation is Eddie Holloway, Dean of Students emeritus at University of Southern Mississippi.

Speaker of the May 13 afternoon graduation is Cassandra Conner, dean of William Carey's Tradition campus in Biloxi.

Bryan Batson, chief executive officer of the Hattiesburg Clinic, is the speaker for the May 21 College of Osteopathic Medicine graduation.

Tickets are required to attend, and they will be distributed through the graduates.

Commencement will be livestreamed on the university's website www.wmcarey.edu and its social media platforms such as Facebook.

Jones College

The college plans to host a commencement ceremony on May 20 at 8 p.m. outdoors on the North Lawn of Jones Hall on campus at 900 South Court St., Ellisville.

A commencement speaker will be announced at a later time, a college spokesperson said.

Tickets are not required for the event. Seating is first come, first serve.

Commencement will be livestreamed on the college's website at www.jcjc.edu.

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Pearl River Community College

The college has campuses in Hattiesburg, Poplarville and Waveland.

Two ceremonies are planned for students at all campuses based on whether students are graduating from career or technical programs or degree programs. Here is the schedule for commencement:

- Graduates of career and technical programs, including allied health and nursing: May 6, 9:30 a.m., outdoors at the Dobie Holden Stadium on campus, 101 Hwy. 11 North, Poplarville

- Graduates earning Associate in Arts degrees: May 6, 2:30 p.m., outdoors at the Dobie Holden Stadium on campus, 101 Hwy. 11 North, Poplarville

There will not be a commencement speaker, a college spokesperson said.

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The college doesn't plan to issue tickets or limit guests. Seating is first-come, first-serve and guests will sit on the home side of the stadium.

Use of face masks while on campus is recommended. The college is ensuring that the venue allows for social distancing, surfaces will be disinfected and hand sanitizer is available.

If the state or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends changes in response to COVID-19 about limiting guests, graduates will be notified immediately.

Pictures will be taken of each graduate. About a week after graduation, graduates will be notified about how to purchase photos online.

Commencement will be livestreamed on the college's website at www.prcc.edu/graduation.

Reporter Mina Corpuz can be reached by email at mcorpuz@gannett.com. You can follow her on Twitter @mlcorpuz.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Pine Belt colleges, universities graduation schedules 2022