Graduate Instructions
Meals During Senior Week
Please show your Royal Card at the time of purchase.For Senior Week, there are no guest meals. Flex can be used in dining locations, POD and SBUX. All remaining flex will be lost if not used before Saturday, May 30, 2020.
Saturday, May 23, 2020
Dinner 5:00pm-6:30pm – 1st Floor DeNaples Center
Spring meal plans end at 2:00pm.
Sunday, May 24, 2020
Lunch 11:30am-3:00pm –1st Floor DeNaples Center
Dinner 5:00pm to 6:30pm –1st Floor DeNaples Center
Monday, May 25 through Thursday, May 28, 2020
Breakfast 9:00am-11:00am – 1st Floor DeNaples Center
Lunch 11:00am to 2:30pm – 1st Floor DeNaples Center
Dinner 5:00pm to 6:30pm – 1st Floor DeNaples Center
Friday, May 29, 2020
Breakfast 9:00am-11:00am – 1st Floor DeNaples Center
Lunch 11:00am-4:00pm – 1st Floor DeNaples Center
Dinner 5:00pm-7:00pm – 3rd Floor DeNaples Center
Saturday, May 30, 2020
Breakfast 9:00am-11:00am – 1st Floor DeNaples Center
Lunch 10:30am-2:30pm – 3rd Floor DeNaples Center
Dinner 4:00pm-7:00 pm – 3rd Floor DeNaples Center
*On Saturday, May 30th, family members without Royal Cards can eat lunch at the Fresh Food Company (3rd floor DeNaples Center) for a reduced rate of $5/person.*
Class Night
There are two phases of this event - having your picture taken with the Provost and then the ceremony.
- Invited graduates must report to the DeNaples Theater by 7:00p.m. You will be photographed and will then process from the Theater to the Ballroom at 8:00p.m.
- You must wear your gown only - no tassels, caps or hoods.
- The Class Night Ceremony will begin promptly at 8:00p.m. in the DeNaples Ballroom and will last until approximately 9:30p.m.
- Immediately following the ceremony, there will be a reception for the invited graduates and their families on the 1st floor of the DeNaples Center.
Graduate Commencement
General Information:
- Tickets are not required for your guests.
- Please report to Loyola Science Center by 9:30a.m. Enter at the northeast Commons entrance by the large ornamental clock. Signs will be posted directing you to this location. An Information Tent will be located at the bottom of the Commons to provide you with directions and provide any additional assistance you may require. Only graduates are allowed in the line-up and robing area. Please view the Graduate events map here for additional information.
- You must bring your color-coded, numbered placement card that was mailed to you in order to participate in Commencement. This card will indicate your position in the line of march for the Commencement procession, your place in the printed program, and the order in which you will receive your diploma.
- Bring your gown with hood as well as your cap with tassel. All doctoral candidates will carry their robe and hood.
- Aside from your placement card and academic attire, please do not bring any other personal items with you.
- Please remember to follow the instructions of the Faculty Marshals and Student Ambassadors at all times.
- Your guest should go directly to the Byron Center and acquire seats for the ceremony.
- As a reminder, smoking is prohibited in all University buildings.
Diplomas and Hooding:
- The Provost will announce the names of the graduates in alphabetical order by college and by degree. Please follow the directions of the Faculty Marshals and remain in order as you approach the stage to receive your diploma.
- All graduates will ascend the stage on the right, proceed to center stage to receive their diploma scroll from the President, and exit the stage on the left. After receiving their scroll from the President, Doctoral degree recipients will then continue across the stage to be hooded.
- Once you exit the stage, please follow the directions of the Student Ambassadors to the black curtain to receive your diploma. You will then be ushered back to your seats.
If you have an outstanding debt to the University, please remember all debts must be satisfied by 12:00p.m. on Friday, May 29, 2020.
Baccalaureate Mass
- Tickets are not required for your guests.
- Robing will begin at 3:30p.m. in the outdoor covered walkway between St. Thomas Hall and the Long Center. Please enter from the Commons to pick up your procession number. Please follow the directions of the Student Ambassadors and Faculty Marshals who will organize the line of march to the Byron Center.
- If you are in the choir/band or are a part of the mass ceremony, please independently make your way to the rear of the Long Center courts and ensure you are at the beginning of the procession line on the left side.
- The procession route will take you through the Long Center; there will be no outdoor procession.
- There will be two lines of students entering the Byron. You will want to have your friends in front of and behind you in the same line. This will assist in having you be seated together during Mass.
- You only need to wear your robe. Do not bring your cap or hood as they will not be permitted to be worn during Mass.
- Please do not bring any personal possessions.
Undergraduate Commencement
General Information:
- Tickets are not required for your guests.
- Arrive at the Mohegan Sun Arena by 10:45a.m.
- Enter through the Graduate Entry Point at the East Gate.
- In order to participate in Commencement, you must bring your color-coded, numbered placement card that you were given during Senior Week.This card is color-coded by college (and by degree, if applicable). Students in the Honors Program, SJLA and Business Leadership Program will process separately from their home colleges. The card also includes a number which indicates your place in line for the Commencement ceremony.
- Have your cap, gown and hood. Please do not add unauthorized decorations to your gown.
- Please do not bring extra items that you would have to carry in your hands (i.e. cameras, purses, etc.). All graduates will be screened upon entering the Arena. As of January 1, 2019, Mohegan Sun Arena implemented a clear bag policy to bring items into the venue. To assist with alleviating the time required to go through security checkpoints, please utilize the following information:
- Food and drink are not to be brought in and will be taken by Arena security. A snack and water will be available to you in the line-up area. Please do not bring them into the ceremony.
- Consumption of alcohol is prohibited at Commencement. Police monitor the parking lots and alcohol is not sold at the Arena during this event.
- Bathrooms in the line-up area are limited. The main bathroom is near Room 179/180.
- Approximate time of ceremony is 3 hours (12:00p.m. to 3:00p.m.)
- At the conclusion of the ceremony, you will meet your guests OUTSIDE the Arena. Graduates in the Honors Programs and the Panuska College of Professional Studies will exit through the East Gate. Graduates from the Kania School of Management and the College of Arts & Sciences will exit through the West Gate. It is recommended you discuss with your guests a location in the parking lot(s) to meet that is away from the Arena building.
Awarding of the Diplomas:
- The Dean of each college announces the names of the graduates in alphabetical order by college and degree.
- Please follow the directions of the Faculty Marshals and be sure you are in proper order according to your placement number as you approach the stage to receive your diploma.
- You will ascend the stage on the right, receive a scroll from the President and exit the stage on the left.
- As you exit the stage, you will receive your diploma near the bottom of the steps. Your diploma will reflect the degree you have earned, not your specific major.
- Latin honors (cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude) will also be reflected for those who have achieved the required grade point average, adjusted to reflect final grades.
- The size of the diploma is 16x20 inches and is suitable for framing.
- The scroll you will receive from the President is an English translation of the Latin inscription on the diploma.
If you have an outstanding debt to the University, you will not receive your diploma until the debt is satisfied. All debts must be satisfied by 12:00p.m. on Friday, May 29, 2020 or your diploma will not be in the diploma envelope that you will receive at Commencement.
Academic Attire for Commencement Ceremonies
- All graduates participating in Graduate Commencement, Baccalaureate Mass and/or Undergraduate Commencement, must wear proper academic attire. For participants in the Commencement ceremonies, you must wear your gown, cap with tassel, and hood. For participants in Baccalaureate Mass, you must wear your robe, however no hood or cap is allowed. There are no exceptions.
- Men should wear shirt and long pants under their robe and shoes.
- Women should wear dresses, or skirts/pants with appropriate tops as well as shoes under their robes.
- For each of the ceremonies, there is a need for long periods of standing. Please be sure to wear shoes appropriate for the occasion.
- Robes should be steamed or lightly pressed before wearing for the ceremonies.
- Student Ambassadors will assist with ensuring your academic attire (hood, cap, tassel) is on correctly. The velvet of your hood should be placed closest to your chin. The tassel for your cap should be placed on the left and it stays on that side. Honor stoles and cords, if applicable, should be placed on your person before you don your hood. The stole and cords hang down the front of your gown.
