Commencement

Mississippi University for Women will recognize spring graduates with ceremonies Thursday, May 2 and Friday, May 3.

A pinning ceremony for the Associate of Nursing program and the Bachelor of Nursing Program will take place Thursday, May 2 at 5:30 p.m.

The commencement ceremony for the College of Arts and Sciences and the Vandergriff College of Nursing & Health Sciences (associate of nursing, bachelor of nursing, doctorate of nursing) will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, May 3.

The School of Education, Vandergriff College of Nursing & Health Sciences (kinesiology, public health, speech-language pathology) and the College of Business and Professional Studies commencement ceremony will begin at 4 p.m. Friday, May 3.

Each graduate will receive six tickets for their conferral ceremony. Family and friends (including ALL children and infants) attending commencement must have an admission ticket. Doors will open to guests 60 minutes prior to each ceremony. There are no extra tickets. General admission will begin 15 minutes prior to each ceremony.

The processional line of march will be formed in Painter Hall. Students should arrive one hour prior to the conferral ceremony in which they have been assigned to participate.

The conferral ceremonies will be live streamed at muw.edu for family and friends to enjoy at home or on a phone, tablet or computer. Nissan Auditorium will be open for on-campus viewing of the livestream broadcast.

More commencement ceremony information is available at www.muw.edu/commencement.

Mag Chain

All graduates are invited to participate in the Mag Chain Ceremony- one of the most treasured traditions at The W- Friday, May 3 at 9:30 a.m. on the Callaway Lawn. Graduates will need to arrive at Carrier Chapel at 8:45 a.m. Rain location is Pohl Gym. 

McKinney
Katiya Vitayaudom McKinney

Esteemed alumna Katiya Vitayaudom McKinney will address W graduates at the Mag Chain Ceremony. McKinney is a seasoned marketing and public relations professional and the recipient of the 2021 Rising Star Award presented by the Alabama Bankers Association and Business Alabama.

The Mag Chain Ceremony is a time-honored tradition at The W, dating back to 1890. While its exact origin is unclear, the ceremony has evolved over the years, with the chain being made of daisies in 1894 and subsequently fashioned from other flowers. In 1905, it was decided that the state flower, the white magnolia blossom, would be the most appropriate choice for the chain. The white magnolia blossoms symbolize the purity of achievement, and the green leaves represent the growing experiences of the graduates over the past four years. Tradition holds that graduates who are able to walk away with a magnolia blossom or bud after the ceremony will have good fortune and romance.

About The W

Located in historic Columbus, Mississippi, The W was founded in 1884 as the first state-supported college for women in the United States. Today, the university is home to 2,227 students in more than 70 majors and concentrations and has educated men for 40 years. The university is nationally recognized for low student debt, diversity and social mobility which empowers students to BE BOLD.

Be Bold. Tower with Blue.