Commencement at Alverno

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 May 2023 graduates
We celebrate our May 2023 graduates during commencement in Pitman Theatre on Saturday, May 20. 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 Livesteams of both commencement ceremonies below!

STEPS TO GRADUATION

                                                               

Step 1

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.

Step 2

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 December
Fall October 15 December
Spring March 15 May

Step 3

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. 

Step 4

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). The deadline to order regalia for May 2023 graduates is March 17!

The cost of your regalia (cap, gown, hood and tassel) is covered by your $150 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. 

Step 5

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.

Step 6

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:
  • May commencement: Saturday, May 20, 2023

All commencement festivities are coordinated through the Dean of Students office (FO 119). If you have any questions, please email or visit us.

Step 7

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

In line with other major venues in the Milwaukee area, at this time we will no longer be requiring masks, proof of vaccination, or proof of negative test results. Alverno is a mask friendly campus. Policies subject to change. Please continue to check back for updates.

Students who march in Commencement will have the opportunity to pick up their diploma after the ceremony in the Commons Lobby.  Students should make sure to provide a mailing address on the Graduation Application they submit to the Registrar’s Office in case it needs to be mailed.

For in-person ceremonies held on the Alverno campus, 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.

Alverno College