Get ready to celebrate
Commencement is a time to celebrate you — not only the degree you have earned and all you have learned, but also the ways in which you are ready to use your talents to strengthen your community.
This step-by-step guide will help you get ready for graduation and ensure your success.
Commencement Ceremony
We will celebrate our graduates during commencement in Pitman Theatre on Saturday, May 17. The ceremonies will be livestreamed on this page.
STEPS TO GRADUATION
Stay on track
Your Academic Evaluation Report and Validation Matrix Report compare your completed coursework with your degree requirements. Be sure to review your reports with your academic advisor.
Update your graduation date in IOL.
Apply for graduation
You will receive your graduation application via email from the Registar's office at the beginning of your last semester. Make sure to list your name exactly how you would like it to appear on your diploma. If you do not receive your graduation application in your final semester, please contact the Registrar.
The deadlines to submit your application are as follows:
| Graduation Term | Application Deadline | Ceremony Date |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | July 15 | May |
| Fall | October 15 | May |
| Spring | March 15 | May |
Get involved
Want to make the day extra special? There are typically several student speaker roles for both undergraduate and graduate students, awarded based on an audition process.
We offer opportunities for students to celebrate their heritage as well as thank and honor those who have supported them along their college journeys. The Bestowing of the Kente and LatinX Con Fuerza cultural ceremonies are typically celebrated the week before commencement.
Order your cap and gown
Graduation regalia — cap/tam, gown, and tassel — must be ordered online from Herff Jones. The link will be provided via email and the commencement Moodle course. The deadline to order regalia for May 2025 graduates is March 28!
The cost of your regalia is covered by your $175 graduation fee (assessed to your student account). The regalia bundle for undergraduate students includes your cap, gown and tassel. The regalia bundle for graduate students includes your cap, gown, tassel and hood. Extra items (stoles, souvenir tassels, announcements, etc.) can be purchased separately; cords representing membership in specific groups are coordinated through the program director or faculty advisor.
Wrap up financial aid and billing
You will need to pay all of your financial obligations to Alverno before the college will issue a diploma or transcript. You may check your balance in IOL. For assistance, please contact our Student Accounts office.
If you have student loans, you need to complete an online exit interview. Please contact our Financial Aid office for more information.
Time to celebrate!
Keep an eye on your Alverno email and the commencement Moodle course for ceremony details, including time, location and the number of guests allowed.
Upcoming ceremony:
- May commencement: Saturday, May 17, 2025
All commencement festivities are coordinated through the Dean of Students office (FO 119). If you have any questions, please email or visit us.
Stay connected
Welcome to a wonderful community of more than 17,000 Alverno Strong alums! There are many ways for you to remain connected to your alma mater, from attending alum events, to joining our mentoring network and seizing opportunities for lifelong learning and professional growth. Make sure we have your updated contact info so we can keep you in the loop on all things Alverno!
We also encourage you to complete the First Destination Survey, which helps us carry out our mission of preparing graduates for lives of personal and professional distinction. You will receive a link to this in your email.
Commencement FAQs
Ready for what's next
