On Sunday, May 16, all candidates for undergraduate degrees should report to the following locations dressed in caps and gowns by 9:50 a.m. (otherwise participation in the ceremony is not guaranteed).

School of Business (BS degrees): Grand Courtroom, School of Law
School of Communications (BA degrees): Tator Hall, second floor
School of Health Sciences (BS degrees): School of Law, first and second floor
College of Arts and Sciences (BA and BS degrees): Clarice L. Buckman Center

Students will line up alphabetically in accordance with the numbered card they receive when they check in. At 10:35 a.m., the Commencement marshals will lead the procession and direct graduates to their seats. The audience will stand quietly as the faculty, staff and platform participants march to their seats.

Ceremony Protocol:
Graduates will stand and remain quiet as the faculty, staff and platform participants march to their seats. During the invocation, men should remove their caps. After the invocation, caps are replaced, and all are seated, following the example of those on the platform. Except for the time when graduates receive their degree, they are expected to remain seated during the ceremony.

Each group of graduates will be called in order; the marshal will direct the groups to the platform area at the correct time. Each graduate will have received a card with his or her name on it. As graduates approach the platform, they will present this card to the dean, who will then read the student's name. After receiving the diploma cover and shaking the President’s hand, graduates will cross the stage and return to their seat. Once the entire group has returned to their seats, the president will announce the conferral of degrees (“By the power vested in me by the Board of Trustees, I hereby confer upon you the degree of…”) After he has finished speaking, students will move the tassel to the left of side of the cap.

When the ceremonies are over, the audience will rise for the benediction. Men should again remove their caps and replace them when the benediction is finished. All graduates will remain standing while the Commencement participants exit. The platform party will leave first, followed by the faculty and staff, followed by the graduates. Students may keep the academic robe, cap, hood, and tassel. They are not to be returned to the bookstore.

In the event of severe weather there will be two ceremonies. Please see the In Case of Severe Weather section for details.