Fall Commencement Planning

Video Archive

Recent commencement ceremonies are available for viewing in the ceremony archive.

Fall Commencement Schedule of Events:

Date/Time	Commencement Activity
Friday, December 20, 2024
1:15–2:30 p.m.	Commencement rehearsal in Knight Performance Hall for all participating graduates
3:15 p.m.	Participating graduates assemble in regalia in Nazareth Hall, 2nd floor
4:00–5:30 p.m.	Commencement ceremony in Knight Performance Hall
5:30–6:30 p.m.	Commencement reception in Billy Graham Community Life Commons

Eligibility for Commencement

December commencement includes the following:

• Adult Undergraduate, Graduate Studies, and Dual Enrollment students: For summer 2024 graduates and fall 2024 planned graduates
  • NOTE: This does not include the Dual Enrollment PSEO summer 2024 graduates who participated in the spring 2024 commencement.
• Traditional Undergraduate students: For fall 2024 planned graduates and summer 2024 School of Nursing graduates.

Regalia: Caps, Gowns, and Hoods

• Beginning in late September, planned graduates will receive instructions of how to order caps and gowns (and hoods for master’s degree students) online.
• Participating graduates must order regalia no later than Sunday, October 27.
• Regalia will be distributed at Grad Expo on Tuesday, December 10 (details below).
• Regalia must be returned to room G210 in the Billy Graham Community Life Commons following the commencement ceremony. Graduates may keep their cap and tassel.
• Members of honors societies will receive their cords from their respective departments. Medallions for academic honors will be distributed at commencement rehearsal.

Commencement Tickets

• Tickets are required for guests attending commencement in Knight Performance Hall.
• The number of tickets provided to each planned graduate is based on the total number of commencement participants.
• Tickets will be distributed to participating planned graduates at Grad Expo on Tuesday, December 10 (details below). Each participating graduate will receive 7 (seven) tickets.
• Overflow viewing on monitors will be available in the Totino Fine Arts Center lobby. Tickets are not required for overflow viewing.

Guests and/or Graduates with Accommodation Needs

• To request an accommodation (e.g., wheelchair/ADA, hearing impaired, or interpreter/translation requests, etc.) for guests and/or graduates attending commencement, please submit a request form by no later than Monday, December 9.

Lodging for Guests

• Some hotels in the local area may offer reduced rates for those who indicate they are coming to the local area to attend graduation at University of Northwestern.

Professional Photographers

• Each graduate will be photographed as diploma covers are presented and at a posed location at the side of the stage.
• After commencement, graduates will be given the opportunity to purchase photos directly from our contracted photographer, Legacies by Laura.

Diplomas

• Diplomas will be mailed beginning in late January.
• Diplomas are sent after graduates have fulfilled all degree requirements and resolved any student account holds. (This includes paying the graduation fee charged to the graduate’s account the last term the graduate registers. Fees: undergraduate $75; graduate $100.)
• Note: Diploma lists degree only. Transcript lists degree, major(s), minor(s), and any concentration(s).

Desktop Diploma

A Uploma™ provides another way to display a college degree. This desktop diploma is completely customizable to fit any major, achievements, graduation year, and school pride. You may order your Uploma online.

Grad Expo

Grad Expo is an open house event that will take place in the Nazareth Great Room on Tuesday, December 10, 2024 from 2–6 p.m. Grad Expo is an open-house event that allows graduates to pick up regalia and commencement tickets, plus check in with several campus offices to prepare for a smooth transition from Northwestern. Students planning to graduate will receive an email invitation prior to the event.

Questions?

Adult Undergraduate and Graduate Studies Students: 866-492-7877 or 651-628-3400; [email protected]

Traditional Undergraduate & Dual Enrollment Students: 800-692-4020, ext. 5119; or 651-631-5119; [email protected]