Commencement Participation: Information for Students, Faculty, and Staff

Line-Up Procedures for Graduates

The undergraduate commencement ceremony begins at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 4. This Indianapolis ceremony is for all Associate and Bachelor’s Degree graduates from Indianapolis campus, Marian's Adult Programs, Saint Joseph's College, and accelerated BSN graduates.

If you are a graduating undergraduate student, please arrive in the Dining Commons in Clare Hall by 12:45 p.m. already dressed in your academic regalia (cap/gown).

Look up your number in the line-up list, which will be posted a few days before commencement, before arriving for line-up. Come to the check-in table in the Dining Commons to pick up your name reader card and then find your spot in line. Numbered signs will be placed along the walls to help you find your spot.

There will be no rehearsal or verbal instructions prior to the ceremony. You are responsible for reviewing the Commencement Procedures for Graduates 2024 - Undergraduate Ceremony document and 2024 Undergraduate Commencement Diagram prior to arriving to ensure you understand expectations and procedures. Keep your name reader card at all times until you hand it to the reader immediately before crossing the stage at commencement.

Do not bring personal belongings or family members/guests to the line-up site. All guests should go directly to the arena, which will open 45 minutes prior to the ceremony start time and will close 15 minutes prior to the ceremony start time.

The ceremony will be livestreamed at https://marian.edu/livestream.

Guest Information

Each graduate walking at the Saturday, May 4 undergraduate commencement is welcome to invite 5 guests into the arena for commencement. Lap children aged 2 and under are not included in the guest limit.

Participating graduates who are walking at commencement will receive their 5 guest tickets to their Marian University student e-mail address within the two weeks prior to the ceremony. Graduates must give a unique ticket to each guest and be careful not to provide the same ticket to multiple guests. Each ticket has a unique scan code and it will only be allowed to scan once into commencement. Guests who present a ticket that has already been scanned will not be able to enter the arena.

Guests may enter the arena beginning 45 minutes before the ceremony start time. Access to the arena will close 15 minutes before the ceremony start time. Guests arriving less than 15 minutes prior to the ceremony start time will not be able to enter the arena and will be directed to the livestream viewing location. 

Livestreaming of the ceremony will be available in the Alumni Hall Family Room and accessible to non-ticketed guests as well as being available online at https://marian.edu/livestream.

Documents for Graduates

Commencement Procedures for Graduates 2024 - Undergraduate Ceremony

2024 Undergraduate Commencement Diagram

The undergraduate commencement ceremony begins at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, 2024.

Undergraduate faculty members should report to Clare Hall 128 & 129 fully dressed in your academic regalia by 1:00 p.m.

The Board of Trustees and platform party should also arrive by 12:30 p.m. in the Private Dining Room and Reading Room.

Staff will assist you with getting into formation and entering the ceremony site.

Personal belongings are your responsibility.

Processional procedure: The commencement marshal will lead the processional, followed by the graduates, the emeriti, faculty, and staff, and then the platform party.

Recessional procedure: The commencement marshal will lead the recessional, followed by the platform party, the emeriti, faculty, and staff, and then the graduates.

Line-Up Procedures for Graduates

The graduate and MU-COM commencement ceremony begins at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 5. This Indianapolis ceremony is for all Master's and Doctoral Degree graduates from the Indianapolis campus.

If you are a graduating master's or doctoral student, please arrive in the Dining Commons in Clare Hall by 9:15 a.m. already dressed in your academic regalia (cap/gown).

Look up your number in the line-up list, which will be posted a few days before commencement, before arriving for line-up. Come to the check-in table in the Dining Commons to pick up your name reader card and then find your spot in line. Numbered signs will be placed along the walls to help you find your spot.

There will be no rehearsal or verbal instructions prior to the ceremony. You are responsible for reviewing the Commencement Procedures for Graduates 2024 - Graduate & MU-COM Ceremony document and 2024 Graduate and MU-COM Commencement Diagram prior to arriving to ensure you understand expectations and procedures. Keep your name reader card at all times until you hand it to the reader immediately before crossing the stage at commencement.

Do not bring personal belongings or family members/guests to the line-up site. All guests should go directly to the arena, which will open 45 minutes prior to the ceremony start time and will close 15 minutes prior to the ceremony start time.

The ceremony will be livestreamed at https://marian.edu/livestream.

Line-Up Procedures for Guest Hooders

The graduate/MU-COM commencement ceremony begins at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 5.

If you are a guest hooder for a doctoral degree student, please arrive by 9:15 a.m. and report to Clare Hall rooms 128 and 129.  Arrive dressed in your academic regalia (gown, hood, cap or tam). Volunteers will help direct you to the appropriate building and rooms upon arrival.

There will be no rehearsal or verbal instructions prior to the ceremony. Look up your number in the hooder line-up list, which will be posted a few days before commencement, before arriving. Your line-up number matches the number assigned to the graduate you are hooding. All hooders sit separately from the graduates in the arena. Floor ushers will assist hooders and graduates by directing rows when to walk to and from the stage for the hooding part of the ceremony.

Do not bring personal belongings or other family members/guests to the hooding line-up site. All other guests should go directly to the arena, which will open 45 minutes prior to the ceremony start time and will close 15 minutes prior to the ceremony start time.

Guest Information

Each graduate walking at the Sunday, May 5 Graduate and MU-COM commencement is welcome to invite guests into the arena for commencement. Additional guests are invited to watch the live stream in Alumni Hall. Lap children aged 2 and under are not included in the guest limit. 

Marian University will not issue tickets to graduates for their guests on Sunday, but instead we are asking graduates to lean into the Franciscan Values and respect each other by helping to encourage their family and friends to follow the 6 guest limit within the arena. This gives all graduates the opportunity to have family and friends sit in the arena.

Guests may enter the arena beginning 45 minutes before the ceremony start time. Access to the arena will close 15 minutes before the ceremony start time. Guests arriving less than 15 minutes prior to the ceremony start time will not be able to enter the arena and will be directed to the livestream viewing location. 

Livestreaming of the ceremony will be available in the Alumni Hall Family Room and accessible to additional guests as well as being available online at https://marian.edu/livestream.

Documents for Graduates

Commencement Procedures for Graduates 2024 - Graduate & MU-COM Ceremony

2024 Graduate and MU-COM Commencement Diagram

The graduate and MU-COM commencement ceremony begins at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 5, 2024.

Graduate and MU-COM faculty members should report to Clare Hall 128 & 129 fully dressed in your academic regalia by 9:30 a.m.

The Board of Trustees and platform party should arrive by 9:00 a.m. in the Private Dining Room and Reading Room.

Staff will assist you with getting into formation and entering the ceremony site.

Personal belongings are your responsibility.

Processional procedure: The commencement marshal will lead the processional, followed by the graduates, the emeriti, faculty, and staff, and then the platform party.

Recessional procedure: The commencement marshal will lead the recessional, followed by the platform party, the emeriti, faculty, and staff, and then the graduates.

Line-Up Procedures for Graduates

Graduates should arrive by 2:00 p.m. and meet in the Learning Commons. Graduates will wear their gown only. Doors for mass will open for guests at 2:00 p.m. The commencement reception will follow directly after Mass in Cana Hall.

All graduates need to return to the Learning Commons dressed and ready for line up by 4:15 p.m.

Do not bring personal belongings or family members/guests to the line-up site. All guests should go directly to the Ancilla Domini Chapel. The Chapel which will at 4:15 p.m. and will close 10 minutes prior to the ceremony start time.

The ceremony will be livestreamed at https://marian.edu/livestream.

Note from President Daniel J. Elsener: 
As we prepare for Marian University Commencement 2024, I would like to take a moment to remind you of the importance of your involvement of these festivities. Your participation and support are vital to the success of the Mass, various ceremonies, and the overall celebration of our graduates’ accomplishments.

  • To Volunteer for Saturday, May 4, Commencement Mass, please email Scott McNamee, Office of Mission and Ministry, smcnamee@marian.edu
  • Volunteer for Saturday, May 4, Undergraduate Ceremony
    Please complete survey by April 17.
  • Volunteer for Sunday, May 5, MU-COM and Graduate Ceremony
    Please complete survey by April 17.  

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Marian University does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin, age or disabilities in the selection of administrative personnel, faculty and staff, and students.
*Placement rates are gathered from data collected from graduates within six months of graduation.

Students may make a complaint to the Indiana Commission of Higher Education.

Marian University is sponsored by the Sisters of St. Francis, Oldenburg, Indiana.

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