Office of the Registrar

Commencement Day

Procession Instructions

As a candidate, you must arrive at the Armory wearing your cap and gown by 7:00 p.m. for the first division, 8:30 a.m. for the second and fourth divisions, and 1:30 p.m. for the third and fifth divisions, in order to assemble in your alphabetical place within your degree group, and to receive final instructions.  Candidates MUST be in alphabetical order within their degree group, and remain in this order.  They must remain in alphabetical order in the procession to receive personal recognition on stage during the ceremony.

The procession will begin approximately 30 minutes prior to the stated start time of the ceremony.  If an emergency causes you to arrive after the start of the academic procession, do not enter the procession line.  Instead, report to the Elliott Hall of Music, Aisle 5, where an usher will seat you with your degree group. 

 Conferring of Degrees

The doctor's degree (Ph.D., Aud. D., D.N.P., D.P., and D.V.M.) is conferred with the candidates standing at their seats.  At the signal, the candidates follow their marshal to the stage.  The marshal removes the hood from the candidate's left arm and the dean or major professor performs the hooding ceremony.  The president presents the diploma.  The candidate then returns to his/her seat.

The master's degree and the educational specialist degree are conferred with the candidates standing at their seats.  At the signal, they follow their marshal to the stage where they receive their diploma cover.  After receiving their cover, graduates move to the front and center of the stage and descend the steps in the direction of their section, return to their seats and are seated.

When the baccalaureate and associate degrees are conferred, the candidates in each college/school are asked to rise and stand at their seats while they are presented to the president.  They remain standing until all baccalaureate and associate candidates have been presented.  The president then confers the degrees and the entire group is seated.  At the signal, they follow their marshal to the stage where they receive their diploma cover.  The second row of graduates rises and follows the first row, and so on.  After receiving their diploma cover, graduates move to the front and center of the stage and descend the steps in the direction of their section, return to their seats and are seated.

Procedures for Diploma Distribution

Candidates for master’s and undergraduate degrees participating in the May commencement exercises will receive diploma covers and hear their names announced as they walk across the stage.  Their diplomas will not be inside their diploma covers.

Qualified master’s and undergraduate candidates who participate in commencement may pick up their diplomas on Monday, May 14 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Armory.  These candidates must show a picture ID to receive their diplomas.  Diplomas not picked up on May 14 will be mailed within one week following the ceremony to the candidates’ permanent diploma mailing address listed on myPurdue. 

Diplomas for all candidates who do not attend commencement will be mailed within four weeks after the May ceremonies conclude.