Commencement

BW's commencement ceremonies will be in-person in the BW George Finnie Stadium. COVID-19 protocols will be followed at each ceremony regardless of whether a guest or graduate is vaccinated or not. This includes six-foot physical distancing of graduates and guests, and all participants will be required to wear masks. Guest groups may sit close together as a "pod" while providing a six-foot distance between guest groups.

View Commencement map to see locations listed below.

Guests and graduates are welcome to park in campus lots in any available space. Typical designations - such as employee parking - do not apply on Commencement day. These lots are open to guests and graduates unless otherwise marked at the entrance of the parking lot.

Accessible parking is available in the Kleist parking lot, which is located west of Finnie Stadium and behind Kleist Center for Art and Drama. Please enter the Kleist parking lot from Bagley Rd.

Those wishing to drop-off individuals with mobility issues may do so at the west entrance of the stadium by entering the Kleist lot from Bagley Rd. Please drop-off and immediately proceed to other parking.

Each graduate may invite up to 3 guests. Guests are required to have a ticket. Tickets were mailed to students in April. Guests will be permitted to enter the stadium one hour prior to the ceremony. As there will be other ceremonies throughout the day, we ask that graduates and guests make every effort to leave the stadium and grounds immediately after the ceremony. Guests with mobility issues will find accessible seating along the track at ground level.

Cap and gown purchases can be made through the BW bookstore at www.bkstr.com/bwstore/shop/graduation.

Gina Vernaci

Gina Vernaci, CEO and president of the Playhouse Square Foundation, returns to BW to address the graduates from 2020. Vernaci provided 2020 grads a congratulations video last year and is excited to return in person along with the Class of 2020 alumni. Playhouse Square is one of Northeast Ohio’s brightest cultural gems and has had a long-standing partnership with BW through our performance and arts management programs. Vernaci joined Playhouse Square in 1984 and has held positions as director of programming, vice president of Theatricals and now as president and CEO.

Victor Ruiz

Victor Ruiz, executive director of Esperanza, will address both Class of 2021 commencement ceremonies. Ruiz graduated from what is now the Cleveland Metropolitan School District's Garrett Morgan School of Science. Financial aid from the Cleveland Scholarship Programs helped him attend Baldwin Wallace University, where he majored in English. While at BW, he began working for the Cleveland Scholarship Programs — now College Now Greater Cleveland. After graduation, he was hired by College Now and became assistant vice president, supervising programs in Cuyahoga and Lorain counties. He earned a Master's Degree in School Counseling at Cleveland State University and is now director of Esperanza. Esperanza is a community organization that improves the academic achievement of Hispanics in Greater Cleveland by supporting students to graduate high school and promoting post-secondary educational attainment.

All graduates will have professional graduation photos taken during the ceremony through our partner, Grad Images. Grad Images provides photo packages for purchase in the weeks after commencement.

If inclement weather prevents ceremonies on Saturday, ceremonies will move to Sunday, May 9, with the same time, locations and restrictions for each event. Ceremonies will only move to Sunday in the event of excessive rain and lightning. Light rain will allow ceremonies to continue. Notification of weather changes will be sent through email, social media and posted to the BW website.

Guests with disabilities and mobility issues will find accessible seating at ground level along the track. Families with members needing ground-level seating may remain together. Families may drop off family members with mobility issues at the west entrance to the stadium and then park in nearby surface lots. Please help keep the flow of traffic moving. Designated areas of surface lots near the stadium will be available for handicap parking.

At the conclusion of commencement, we ask that all graduates and their families immediately leave the stadium and adjacent parking lots to avoid large crowds. Please respect all COVID-19 protocols for group gatherings on campus and in the City of Berea. BW is a good neighbor, and we ask that you be mindful of others in our community.

White Rose Ceremony is a tradition that recognizes women from the graduating class who have made significant contributions to the life of the BW community through service, excellence in academics and advanced the YJ4L spirit. The 2021 recipients of this honor will be recognized in a private ceremony prior to Commencement.

Baccalaureate Service is an interdenominational service, traditionally held on commencement day for all graduating students and their families. This event will not be held this year.

President's Reception is traditionally held on commencement day for all graduating students and their families. This event will not be held this year.