Preparing for the Ceremony
There are no student rehearsals for the commencement exercises. Tickets are free, but are required due to limited seating capacity. Tickets cannot be sold or duplicated.
Guests will be allowed to enter the arena approximately one-hour before each ceremony. Please arrive 30 minutes prior to your ceremony to ensure admission. Guests arriving later will be seated as space permits.
The length of the ceremony can range from 1.5 hours to 2 hours.
Before the Ceremony
Arrive one-hour before the ceremony; pick up your name card at the registration table and locate your major to line-up for the processional. You will be given specific instructions regarding the procession. Student Processionals will begin 15 minutes prior to the ceremony start time. Ceremonies will start promptly at the scheduled time. All students must have a name card.
Undergraduate degree candidates wear their tassel on the right side of the mortarboard until directed to move it to the left.
Master's and Ed.D. degree candidates wear their tassel on the left side of the mortarboard, and carry the hood inside the arena on the left arm. Specific hooding instructions will be given when you line-up in the arena basement.
You are requested to silence your cell phone before you march into the arena.
The Ceremony
Graduating Students:
Faculty marshals lead the procession to the arena and will direct you to your seat. Once you reach your seat please be seated until directed to stand by the faculty marshals. Faculty marshals will tell you when to stand and proceed toward the ramp.
Please extend the same courtesy to the last graduate as you did to the first graduate and stay seated until the end of the ceremony.
Candidates for degrees will be recognized individually on stage. When you reach the stage, hand your name card to the faculty reader (this is the card you receive at the registration tables). Your name will be read as you cross the stage to shake hands with President Tomás D. Morales or Provost Rafik Mohamed. Proceed down the stairs return to your seat and stay seated until the end of the ceremony as a courtesy to all your fellow graduates.
The platform party will exit first followed by faculty and graduates.