The Telegram & Gazette noted WPI in its College Town section (scroll down to third item). “After having to postpone in-person graduations last year due to the pandemic, Worcester Polytechnic Institute will celebrate its class of 2020 at a commencement ceremony this weekend,” the article stated.
Class of 2020 Commencement
After being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a commencement ceremony was held on Saturday, August 7 to celebrate the important milestone with the undergraduate and graduate classes of 2020.
PLEASE NOTE: WPI is pleased to offer to each student two digital photos taken by a professional photographer. There is no cost to you for these downloadable photos which will come from our contracted company GradImages. There is no need to purchase additional photos.
Scenes from Commencement 2020
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2020 Commencement News
Jessica Rosewitz and Assoc. Prof. Nima Rahbar Grad Commencement 2016
June 17, 2020
Class of 2021 Commencement
This spring, WPI honored and celebrated the Class of 2021. Working within the state’s capacity guidelines and projections—and with the advice of WPI’s Coronavirus Emergency Response Team—we created a festive and celebratory way to acknowledge this important milestone. Instead of a large-scale ceremony, we held several smaller, more personal events, assembled by degree programs, departments, and schools, on May 19-22. This allowed us to accommodate two guests per student while following the required social distancing and capacity guidelines.
Watch the 2021 Ceremonies
| Ceremony | Date | Video Link |
| Graduate Commencement Ceremony for the School of Arts & Sciences and the Foisie Business School | Wednesday, May 19 at 10 a.m. | Watch the ceremony |
| Graduate Commencement Ceremony for the School of Engineering | Wednesday, May 19, 2021 at 3 p.m. | Watch the ceremony |
| Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony for the School of Arts & Sciences and the Foisie Business School | Thursday, May 20 at 10 a.m. | Watch the ceremony |
| Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony for the School of Engineering Part 1 (Biomedical, Chemical, Civil & Environmental, Electrical & Computer) | Thursday, May 20 at 3 p.m. | Watch the ceremony |
| Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony for the School of Engineering for the following programs Part 2 (Aerospace, Mechanical, Robotics) | Friday, May 21 at 10 a.m. | Watch the ceremony |
| ROTC Commissioning Ceremony | Friday, May 21 at 3:00 p.m. | Watch the ceremony |
| Full Virtual Ceremony (for those students unable to attend their respective in person commencement ceremony) | Saturday, May 22, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. | Watch the ceremony |
Scenes from Commencement 2021
Multimedia for Commencement Celebrations
Whether you are hosting a family celebration at home or enjoying a virtual graduation party with friends from afar, access one of these multimedia files to add to the festivities. Add your own special messages and photos by downloading this customizable PowerPoint Presentation—or simply click play for the video version!
WPI Commencement through the Years
WPI’s Commencement Ceremony dates back to 1871 when the university sent the 16 young men of its very first graduating class out into the world. On July 26, 1871, sixteen students took part at the first Commencement ceremony of the Worcester County Free Institute of Industrial Science. Commencement exercises were held in the Chapel at Boynton Hall.