2024 Graduate Commencement

Getting there

Please refer to the directions and parking page for more information.

Guest Arrival

Guests are welcome to start arriving any time after 1 p.m. Unless otherwise marked, all seating is available.

Student lineup

Graduates should line up according to program at 1:30 p.m. on the Fifth Avenue Streetscape (between Marston and Weter). If students are participating in a Hooding ceremony or program gathering prior to the Commencement ceremony, a staff member will direct them to the Streetscape. 

Rain plan

If there is a forecast for severe weather, including heavy rain and/or thunder and lightning, the Rain Plan will be put into action. Students will receive email notification if and when the Rain Plan is put into action. If you do not receive a rain plan notification, it means the event will be outdoors as originally schedule. Please be sure to plan for the weather. 

Photography

Grad Images is the official photography company for Commencement. They will take a photograph of each graduate receiving a diploma, and graduates will receive a proof in the mail shortly after the ceremony. You can contact the company at 1-800-628-4509, or by visiting gradimages.com. No other photographers are allowed in any aisle or near the platform.

ADA seating

For guests using a wheelchair or walker, or who need a seat close to the sidewalk, please contact graduationinfo@spu.edu. We can make arrangements for a few companion seats as well.

ADA dropoff

We recommend pulling into the Ross parking lot, directly across 3^rd Ave. W. from Tiffany Loop, to drop off your guests before parking your car.

Sign language interpretation

There will be sign language interpretation at the Graduate Commencement ceremony. If you have a guest that needs to be seated close to the interpreter, please contact graduationinfo@spu.edu.

Flowers and leis

There is no official flower vendor, but frequently there is someone selling flowers and leis on the sidewalk near the opening to Tiffany Loop. To be safe, we recommend purchasing flowers before you come to campus.

Bookstore

The SPU Bookstore will be open 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. They will have any remaining regalia (caps, gowns, hoods, and stoles) available for purchase.

2024 Schedule of events

Graduate Commencement ceremony

Friday, June 7, 2–3:30 p.m., Tiffany Loop 

Graduates, please arrive promptly by 1 p.m. to line up. Meet on the Fifth Avenue streetscape (between Marston and Weter), and line up according to program. Doctoral students, with hoods in hand, should line up at the front of the processional (on the south end of the Streetscape), by program. Staff will be on hand to direct you.

The processional will begin moving down to Tiffany Loop at 1:25 p.m. Keep your place in line, and be sure to sit in your assigned row.

If you have any accessibility needs (e.g., cannot manage stairs), please contact graduationinfo@spu.edu, so that we can assist with accommodations.

After Commencement

Meeting family members/guests: Following the platform party and faculty recessional (students will not recess), you can visit with your family members and guests in Tiffany Loop and take photos up by the platform.

Graduate Hooding ceremonies

Friday, June 7 (various locations on campus; contact your department or school for information)

We are honored to have as our Graduate Commencement speaker Esau McCaulley, PhD, associate professor of New Testament at Wheaton College and author of How Far to the Promised Land.

Before you graduate

There are important steps you must take before you graduate (further instructions provided below):

• Register for Commencement events through Banner by May 28, 2024
• Order your regalia
• Pick up your regalia

Registration

You must register online for Commencement. If you have applied to graduate in Banner, instructions for Commencement registration will be sent to your SPU email address.

To register your guests for your hooding ceremony, please contact your program coordinator.

Regalia (caps, gowns, and hoods) is required for participation in the Graduate Hooding and Graduate Commencement ceremonies. All gowns are black, and hood and tassel colors depend upon your degree.

Ordering

You will need to purchase your cap, gown, and tassel online through Josten's by midnight on Monday, March 3, if you plan on picking it up at Grad Fest on April 12. If you do not purchase your regalia by March 3, some pre-packed regalia and optional accessories will be available to purchase at Grad Fest. After March 3, regalia can be ordered online for home delivery only. Home delivery orders placed after midnight on Sunday, April 21, cannot be guaranteed for delivery prior to Commencement 

For doctoral graduates only: If you are or will be employed in an academic environment where you will need to wear regalia on an annual basis, you may want to consider purchasing higher quality, custom doctoral robes. There will be a Josten's representative at Grad Fest, on April 12, to assist you with the ordering process. Or, you may contact our Josten's rep directly to order in advance of Grad Fest. (If you are ordering custom robes, the order-by date of March 3 mentioned above does not apply to you.)

If you have any issues or questions associated with ordering regalia, please contact the Bookstore at 206-281-2137 or bookstore@spu.edu.

Picking up regalia

If your regalia order is placed by March 3, your regalia will be ready to pick up at Grad Fest on Friday, April 12. Orders placed after March 3 will be delivered to the address specifed in your order.

Announcements, diploma frames, and class rings

You can order announcements, diploma frames, and class rings through the Josten's website. Diploma frames are also available in the SPU Bookstore.

Wearing your regalia

As a master’s and doctoral graduate, you will wear your tassel on the left side of your cap or tam.

Remember to wear comfortable footwear, as you will be on your feet quite a bit. Note that the Graduate Commencement ceremony is outside, so please plan your clothing and footwear accordingly.

About graduate hoodings

Graduate hooding ceremonies, where master’s students will be hooded, will be held at various times and campus locations prior to the Graduate Commencement ceremony (doctoral students will be hooding during the Graduate Commencement ceremony). All students wear regalia. Hooding ceremonies are an intimate celebration of students and their program faculty. Some hooding ceremonies do require registration or tickets, so students should check in with their graduate program coordinator.

Getting there

Please refer to the directions and parking page and to the hooding location map for more information.

The Rain Plan for Graduate Commencement goes into effect only if there is a forecast for severe weather, including heavy rain and/or thunder and lightning. With such a forecast, SPU will send a Rain Plan Notice, via email, to all registered graduating students, as well as faculty and staff. If you do not receive this notice, you can assume the ceremonies will take place, as planned, outdoors. Please, however, plan for the weather. The ceremonies will take place outdoors even in light rain.