Yes! We will provide a live stream via SGU’s Facebook Page. A recording of the Grenada Commencement will be uploaded to YouTube after the event.

Commencement is the physical ceremony that takes place annually. The graduation date, which can also be referred to as a diploma date is the date that the university officially awards your degree and will appear on your diploma. There are no physical events for diploma dates.

Until you have formally graduated (i.e., you have become a graduate) you are a graduand.

No. If students choose not to take part in any ceremony and their university academic requirements are met, graduates will receive their diplomas electronically and then a hardcopy is sent via regular mail.

Graduands who are unable/do not wish to attend their ceremony may graduate in absentia, where they will not be invited to any further ceremonies (for the same degree). If you graduate in absentia your name will still appear in the program.

Candidates must initiate the process by completing the online Ceremony Attendance Form. This form is emailed to all eligible candidates.

An invitation email with access to the Ceremony Registration Form will be sent to your SGU email approximately 3 months prior to the ceremony.

The Ceremony Registration Form allows:

• Registering yourself for commencement
• Reserving guest tickets
• Ordering regalia

You will NOT receive your diploma the day of the ceremony. Once the Office of the Registrar has cleared you, you will receive your official diploma in the mail. Please understand that your completion and diploma dates and the date of commencement are independent of one another. Any questions concerning your completion date or diploma date should be directed to the Office of Registrar.

All graduating students are welcome to audition to sing the national anthem at the commencement ceremony. Keep checking your email for notification of the audition schedule.

How do I get honors?
There is different academic honor classification awarded as follows:

• Summa Cum Laude (with highest honors)
  • Students graduating with a GPA between 3.90 to 4.00.
• Magna Cum Laude (with great honor)
  • Students graduating with a GPA between 3.70 to 3.89.
• Cum Laude (with honors)
  • Students graduating with a GPA between 3.50 to 3.69.

All tickets are general admission. Guests are invited to enter the venue sixty minutes prior to the start of the ceremony to obtain their seats.

Graduands and guests should dress appropriately. Graduands should keep in mind you will be in a gown, and it tends to get warm. Business casual is suitable for all.

No. Please refrain from bringing any personal belongings on the day of the ceremony, or if you must, leave valuables and personal possessions with family and friends. There will be no place to store these items and we are not responsible for lost, stolen, or destroyed personal possessions.

Although the commencement ceremony is held indoors, rain, unfortunately, is a possibility. Unless weather conditions are dangerous or severe, the commencement ceremony will still happen rain or shine.

In designated rows with easy access to the stage. Ushers will be present on the day to guide you to the right location.

Unfortunately, not, since you will be seated and called to the stage according to the program that you are in.

You will be called according to your program. Ushers will guide you on the day.

These will be distributed in the graduand assembly venue on the day. These cards provide information for recognition in the ceremony that you attend. Please ensure you keep the card with you at all times, as you will need to present it in order to walk across the stage.

Please write a phonetic version (i.e., spell it out as it sounds) onto your namecard in block capital letters.

If you are within six (6) credits of fulfilling your requirement and wish to walk in May, you should write and formally request permission from the Dean of the School of Arts & Sciences.

No, but information is provided in an instructional video, in lieu of a formal rehearsal, ahead of time. Students are asked to check-in on the day of the ceremony at their corresponding ceremony time. After checking-in, you will be given further processional instructions.

Graduation ceremonies are a formal occasion and as such we must work to set deadlines. Students must be lined up and guests must be in their seats no later than 30 minutes before the start time of the ceremony.  If you do arrive late, please speak to a member of our event staff and they will inform you of your next steps.

Approximately two hours.

As this is a formal event and a special day for you and your guests, they should dress accordingly. Professional dress is recommended, such as ones that would be worn to church. No jeans, shorts, flip-flops, torn clothing or clothing with offensive symbols or words, etc.

Parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis. On the day you will be guided to the appropriate parking locations. Please bear in mind that you may have to park some distance from the ceremony location. If you have guests that will require a little extra time, make sure to arrive early.

Please anticipate a significant amount of walking before you enter the venue. We encourage you to wear comfortable shoes and plan appropriately.

Shuttles will be available for those who need assistance getting from the parking area to the ceremony.

Guests should arrive with ample time for parking and walking to the ceremony location. The doors to the venue will open at least 1 hour prior to the start of each ceremony.  Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

No, so please make sure your guests know to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony. The ceremony will start promptly as scheduled.

Yes, however it is not recommended to bring children under the age of 5: this is a formal ceremony, which young children may find too long. Children require their own ticket, but children under the age of two (2) do not need a ticket and will be allowed on an adult’s lap.

If you have a guest that will need special assistance due to reduced mobility or other accessibility requirements, send an email to grenadagraduation@sgu.edu with the title ‘SPECIAL ACCOMODATIONS in the subject line, at least one month prior to the ceremony with the following information:

• Name of graduate
• Name and number of guests requiring accessible seating/accommodation (total group)
• Phone number where group can be reached on graduation day
• Notes on accommodations needed (For example, walks with difficulty, uses wheelchair, uses motorized scooter, etc.)

All tickets are general admission. Guests are invited to enter the venue half hour prior to the start of the ceremony to obtain their seats.

Tickets will be distributed to graduating students closer to the date of the ceremony. Only graduates that selected “Yes” to attending on their Ceremony Attendance Form will be able to reserve guest tickets.

Each student will receive two tickets which will give your guests access to the ceremony. Additional tickets may become available but are not guaranteed.

All guests, including children aged 3 and over must have a ticket to attend commencement. Children under age two are exempt and do not need a guest ticket.

Yes, since a wheelchair occupies the space of a chair, a guest ticket is required for an individual in a wheelchair and all accompanying guests and/or caregivers.

Yes. Without a ticket for the ceremony, they will be denied entry.

Yes, there is a dress code. It is professional dress (wear the clothes that you would go to a formal job interview in!)

No. Your gown must be worn in the same state you were given it. Your hood will be sufficient decoration.

No. The gowns have already been cleaned. Do not iron them, as you may damage the fabric. Once you have collected it, hang it up so that it does not become creased.

You may find it difficult to manage one in addition to your hat, hood, program, etc., so it is recommended that you keep the items that you will need to carry to a minimum and there will be no place to store these items. Remember we are not responsible for lost, stolen, or destroyed personal possessions.

Honors cords will be distributed to eligible graduates when they check-in on commencement day. To confirm honors status, please contact the Office of University Registrar. Please note that only students who have completed ALL of their degree program requirements will be issued with the Honors cord. If you are walking, i.e., you are within six (6) credits of completing the requirements, you will NOT be issued with an Honors cord.

No, since you have not yet completed the requirements of your degree. If wearing the Honors cord when you graduate is especially important to you, you should delay your graduation until next year when you have completed the requirements.

Information on ordering gowns will be shared via email. Please ensure that you check your SGU email account regularly as it will serve as the main mode of communicating information to graduands. Gowns will be available for collection prior to graduation.

Cord distribution is done during regalia distribution. Eligibility is managed by the organization that has implemented a specific cord. Students with questions about student organization cords should consult the student organization directly.

Honors cords will be distributed to eligible graduates when they check-in on commencement day. To confirm honors status, please contact the Office of University Registrar.

• Undergraduate students: Before graduating, the tassel should be on your right. During the ceremony, when you graduate, it will be moved to the left (you will be told when to do this!).
• School of Graduate Studies students: it is placed on the left before the ceremony and will not be moved.

Printed programs are not distributed at the commencement ceremony, but a digital version of the program will be available on our Commencement homepage the morning of the event. An accessible PDF will also be available for download.

All students who have met all graduation eligibility requirements will have their names appear in the program, regardless of whether they attend the ceremony or not. Names appearing in the program do not constitute confirmation of eligibility for a degree.

Yes.

Yes, but we would ask that they remain seated or try to minimize the extent to which they may block other guests’ views.

Yes, a professional photographer is present on the day. Photo packages will include photos of each candidate in their academic dress as they process across the stage. All arrangements must be made with the photographer directly.