Universities and colleges throughout the Richmond area have announced commencement plans designed to keep people safe while allowing for graduates and their families to celebrate.

Many ceremonies will be held virtually, with some in-person components in adherence to COVID-19 health and safety precautions and protocols.

Gov. Ralph S. Northam issued an executive order in March offering guidance to colleges and universities for spring ceremonies as COVID-19 vaccines were ramping up.

Under the order, indoor ceremonies are limited to no more than 500 people or 30 percent capacity, whichever is less. Outdoor ceremonies, however, can be held with up to either 5,000 people or 30 percent capacity, with social distancing and face masks required for all ceremonies.

“While graduation and commencement ceremonies will still be different than they were in the past, this is a tremendous step forward for all of our schools, our graduates and their families,” the governor stated at the time.

For many schools, the 2021 commencement ceremonies will be the first held in person since 2019. Following are commencement details released by the universities:

Virginia Union University: Anthony Anderson, star and executive producer of the ABC sitcom “black-ish,” will deliver the 122nd commencement address at VUU at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 8. The ceremony will be held virtually on VUU Facebook and on YouTube VUU TV. After the universitywide ceremony, graduates will participate in virtual school-based celebrations with deans, faculty and classmates.

“Our students’ lives mirror many of the themes characterized in the show ‘black-ish.’ Anthony Anderson will bring the perfect message filled with honesty and humor as our students begin the next phase of their life,” said VUU President Hakim J. Lucas. “I am thrilled our graduates will have the opportunity to hear from him, especially after a year of COVID-19 and calls for social justice reform.”

Details: vuu.edu

Virginia Commonwealth University: There will be a virtual universitywide commencement at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 15, with small, in-person ceremonies for various colleges, schools and departments. The virtual celebration will include a Zoom pre-party for students, featuring video clips and photos from graduates, speeches and music. A student speaker representing the Class of 2021 will be chosen from video auditions.

“It’s important that we recognize the accomplishments of the VCU Class of 2021,” said VCU President Michael Rao. “As leaders, problem-solvers and agents of change, they’ve combined what they learned in and out of the classroom and are among the very best the world has to offer.”

Details: commencement.vcu.edu.

Virginia State University: The university is recognizing graduates from 2021 and 2020 with two in-person ceremonies on Sunday, May 23, at Rogers Stadium on the Ettrick campus.

The ceremony for the Class of 2021 will be held at 9 a.m., while a 2 p.m. ceremony will be held for all Class of 2020 graduates.

The outdoor ceremonies will be held rain or shine, according to officials. Seating is limited, with each graduate receiving two tickets. Tickets and face masks are required for entry to the stadium.

The ceremony also will be live streamed on the VSU website.

Details: vsu.edu

Reynolds Community College: Graduates will be recognized at two outdoor ceremonies on Saturday, May 15, in front of the Massey Library Technology Center on the Parham Road campus.

Students from the schools of business and health professions will participate in the 10 a.m. ceremony, while the 2 p.m. ceremony will be for students in the schools of humanities and social sciences and science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Each graduate can register and bring two guests to their ceremony. Face masks are required, along with maintaining proper social distancing.

The ceremonies will take place outdoors rain or shine. Both ceremonies also will be streamed online.

Details: reynolds.edu.

University of Richmond: Commencement ceremonies will be held in person on Friday, May 7, Saturday, May 8, and Sunday, May 9, at different times and places around the campus.

For all ceremonies, graduates will be allotted two tickets for guests, who must be registered in advance. All ceremonies will be livestreamed and recorded.

The main ceremony for the Class of 2021 in the School of Arts & Sciences, the Jepson School of Leadership and the Robins School of Business will be held 9 a.m. Sunday, May 9, at Robins Stadium. Ed Bastian, the chief executive officer of Delta Air Lines, will speak.

The School of Professional and Continuing Studies will hold commencement ceremonies Saturday, May 8, at the Robins Center at 8 a.m. for Class of 2020 graduates and at 11:30 a.m. for Class of 2021 graduates. Student and alumni speakers will be featured.

The Law School ceremony will be 4 p.m. Saturday, May 8, at the Robins Stadium.

The MBA ceremony for the Class of 2020 and the Class of 2021 will be held 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 7, at the Robins Center. Two graduates of the Class of 2020 will speak.

Details: commencement.richmond.edu