Michigan State spring graduation 2024: Times, speakers, traffic

LANSING — More than 9,500 students will graduate from Michigan State University in the coming days, with the majority of the ceremonies set for this week.

The largest ceremony, undergraduate commencement, is set for Friday, where 6,849 students are expected to receive bachelor’s degrees.

The university said those students come from 80 of Michigan’s 83 counties, 47 states and 51 countries, and range in age from 18 to 61. They include 135 student-athletes; 780 graduating seniors are members of the Honors College. In April, the Board of Trustees honored 272 undergrads for having 4.0 grade point averages.

“I applaud our spring graduates and commend them on their achievements as they close one chapter in their lives and prepare to open a new one,” MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz said. “I urge graduates to stay curious and seek ways to serve and lead their communities, addressing the significant challenges of our time.”

Here’s what you need to know about the various commencement ceremonies, including what you can and cannot bring and who is speaking at key events.

When is graduation?

MSU will will host commencement ceremonies for more than 9,500 graduates including bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and professional programs between Friday and May 10. College-level ceremonies are April 26-28 at the Breslin Center and Wharton Center.

April 26 is the biggest day of events.

At 9 a.m., advanced degree ceremonies for those receiving master’s and educational specialist degrees will be at the Breslin Center.

At 1 p.m., bachelor’s degree candidates will also be at the Breslin Center.

And at 3 p.m., the doctoral commencement will be at the Breslin Center.

Who’s speaking this year?

Financial executive and Michigan State University Federal Credit Union President and CEO April Clobes will address master’s and educational specialist degree recipients at 9 a.m. The university will award her an honorary doctor of business degree.

Clobes has served as the chief executive of MSUFCU since March of 2015. Clobes is an MSU grad with two degrees, a bachelor’s in marketing and a master’s in advertising. She also has an MBA from Western Michigan University.

Former MSU Head Football Coach Mark Dantonio will address undergraduates at 1 p.m. Dantonio coached the Spartans for 13 seasons, leading the team to three Big Ten championships and victories in several bowl games. He will receive an honorary doctor of education degree.

At 3 p.m. Bolaji Balogun, CEO of banking firm Chapel Hill Denham in Nigeria and co-founder and director of Econet Wireless Nigeria, will address doctoral candidates. Balogun, a member of the United Nations Global Compact Board, also will receive an honorary doctor of business degree and will be a keynote speaker at the Global Business Club's Spotlight on West Africa event on Wednesday, April 24. The event will be hosted by the Broad College of Business’s International Business Center.

How can I send my graduate a message?

Family, friends and alumni can submit personalized messages and photos to be displayed on stage prior to the ceremonies. The college’s commencement website, https://commencement.msu.edu/, has links for each ceremony.

Commencement events will also be livestreamed and available to view via MSU’s commencement website. To follow ceremonies on X, use the tag #SpartanGrad24.

Selfies are OK, selfie sticks aren’t

MSU has installed various security measures at Breslin and other campus sites. There are limits on what you can bring inside. For example, only small, transparent bags are allowed. Cameras, camcorders and certain carrying cases are also permitted. Prohibited items include noisemakers, selfie sticks, pets, signs and weapons of any form. All those entering the Breslin Center will have to go through metal detectors.

No food or beverages — including bottled water — is allowed, although the Breslin Center will offer a limited concessions menu during the ceremonies.

How do I get there?

Good question. MDOT is in the midst of a years-long remake of US 127, and the Trowbridge exit for those traveling north on the freeway is closed. MDOT is reconstructing 3.7 miles of the north-south artery from Interstate 496 in Lansing to an area north of Mason. Additionally, Michigan Avenue in Lansing and Coolidge Road in East Lansing are under reconstruction.

Here's some more detail on the US 127 project, but expect delays and plenty of orange cones as thousands flock to campus over the weekend. Plan on extra time to get to campus.

Drivers coming in from the south or southeast Michigan can use the Okemos Road exit on Interstate 96. Those coming from the north can access campus from US 127 via Grand River Avenue near Frandor.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Michigan State graduation April 26-28: Times, speakers, traffic