Commencement Ceremonies

You will need to be at your line-up location no later than 30 minutes before your ceremony. Doors to the arena will open 1 hour prior to each ceremony for your guests to be seated.  
Line up in the Student Rec Center, located just north of Bearcat Arena, at the end of the hallway adjacent to Bearcat Arena.

Processions will begin promptly with the platform party and graduates entrance into the arena. You will be led in by the banner carrier for your college/school. The Commencement Coordinator will instruct you on where and when to sit.

You will be instructed when to rise to be presented for degrees. You will then be asked to sit back down and released one row at a time by the commencement coordinator to go to the stage. (This alleviates graduates standing and waiting for a long period of time to go to the stage, and impairing the vision by those you're standing in front of.)

The deans of the respective colleges will shake your hand and give you a diploma cover. (Your actual diploma will be mailed approximately six weeks after graduation). You will have your picture taken as you shake President Jasinski's hand, and again in front of the Northwest backdrop.

After all candidates have returned to their seats, degrees will be conferred by the President. At this point, the tassel is moved from the right to the left side of the cap (mortarboard).

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the Alma Mater will be sung. The words will be printed in the program found on each graduates chair.

You will then be directed back into the Rec Center to return your gown/hood. If you would like to come back into the auditorium/arena for photos with your family in front of the backdrop, you may do so until 45 minutes after the conclusion of your ceremony.

Please make a plan for meeting up with your family and other guests after the ceremony.  

Return your gown to the Rec Center within 1 hour of the conclusion of the ceremony. The cap and tassel and honor cords (if applicable) are yours to keep. Graduates, your hoods are yours to keep as well.

Doors to the arena open one hour before each ceremony for guests.  

The circle drive will be closed off in front of the arena for standby emergency vehicle use. Only those needing special assistance will be permitted to be dropped off in front of the arena. The lot west of the Olive DeLuce Fine Arts Building is reserved for handicapped parking.

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