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.
For August and December 2023 graduates
We celebrate our August and December 2023 graduates during commencement in Pitman Theatre on Saturday, December 16. The commencement ceremony for undergraduate candidates is at 11
AM and the ceremony for doctorate and masters candidates is at 2 PM. Check out the live streams of both commencement ceremonies below!
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.
Submit a Participation & Accommodations Form
You will receive a Participation & Accommodations Form via email from the Dean of Student's Office at the beginning of your last semester. If you have questions or changes, please email graduation@alverno.edu.
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 graduation Moodle course (GRF-400 for undergraduate students and GRF-600 for graduate and doctoral students). Students will receive communication in early October about the regalia ordering process. For those finishing in August, your Alverno email will stay active for 6-months past graduation.
The cost of your regalia (cap, gown, hood and tassel) is covered by your $175 graduation fee (assessed to your student account). 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 graduation Moodle course for ceremony details, including time, location and the number of guests allowed.
Upcoming ceremony:
- December commencement: Saturday, December 16, 2023
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
The graduation fee pays for regalia, diplomas and diploma covers, and event expenses (food, language interpreters, etc.). All students are required to pay this fee regardless if they choose to participate in the ceremony or not. The office of Student Accounts will apply the fee, and also handles any changes if your graduation date unexpectedly changes.
The Registrar's Office will mail diplomas after degrees have been conferred (post Commencement ceremony). Look out for an email from the Registrar's Office about what name you'd like on your diploma and your mailing address.
The number of guest tickets is determined by how many students choose to participate in the ceremony. At minimum each student can typically get 4 tickets each, but there may be opportunities for more. That is determined in early November. For family and friends who aren't able to attend in-person, we live-stream the ceremony online so that guests can celebrate with you wherever they are!
Special seating accommodations, English-to-Spanish translation services, and American Sign Language translation services are provided for guests in Pitman Theatre. Graduates will have an opportunity to indicate what services are needed via a Commencement Participation Form. If you have additional questions, feel free to email the Dean of Students office at deanofstudents@alverno.edu or call 414-382-6118.
Disability-related accommodations are available for graduates and/or their guests through the Instructional Services Department. Requests are typically scheduled two months prior to the graduation ceremony. In order to successfully meet your needs and ensure that appropriate accommodations are made, please contact the Student Accessibility Coordinator at 414-382-6026.
Yes, the College hires Empire Photography to take photos of each graduate before and during the ceremony. Students have the opportunity to place an order with Empire Photography if desired.
Yes, students are able to decorate their mortarboards, but must adhere to a few guidelines. Decorations cannot go past the dimensions of the cap (in any direction), and must be appropriate for the occasion.
Ready for what's next
