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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 3. 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 published the week of 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 document and commencement diagram prior to arriving to ensure you understand expectations and procedures. These documents will be published by the week of commencement. 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 4 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 4 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.

The undergraduate commencement ceremony begins at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, 2025.

Undergraduate faculty members should report to Clare Hall room 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-WCOM commencement ceremony begins at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 4. 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 published the week of 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 document and commencement diagram prior to arriving to ensure you understand expectations and procedures. These documents will be published by the week of commencement. 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-WCOM commencement ceremony begins at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 4.

If you are a guest hooder for a doctoral degree student, please arrive by 9:15 a.m. and report to Clare Hall room 128/129.  Arrive dressed for the ceremony in professional attire or 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 published the week of 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.

The graduate and MU-WCOM commencement ceremony begins at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 4, 2025.

Graduate and MU-WCOM faculty members should report to Clare Hall room 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

The Marian University’s Ancilla College commencement ceremony begins at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 2 following the graduation reception. Please arrive in The Learning Commons by 4:15 p.m.  dressed in your academic regalia (cap/gown). Staff will be present to assist with line-up. Do not bring personal belongings or family members/guests to the line-up site. All guests should go directly to the Chapel or Cana Hall.

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

Guest Information

Each graduate walking is welcome to invite 5 guests into the Chapel. Lap children aged 2 and under are not included in the guest limit.

Participating graduates can pick up their tickets the week of April 21-25. Tickets will be available in Zirkle Commons from 11-1 each day. Graduates must give a unique ticket to each guest.

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

Line-Up Procedures for Faculty

The undergraduate commencement ceremony begins at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 2 following the graduation reception. Undergraduate faculty members, Board of Visitors, Board of Trustees, and platform party should report to Hardesty Room fully dressed in your academic regalia by 4:30 p.m. Staff will assist you with getting into formation and entering the ceremony site. Do not bring personal belongings to Hardesty Room as the room will not be locked during commencement.

Note from President Daniel J. Elsener: 
As we prepare for Marian University Commencement 2025, 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.

Volunteer for Commencement

Indianapolis Campus

Ceremonies will take place in the Arena and Convocation Center. To assist in planning, please complete the volunteer surveys by April 17.

Volunteer for Saturday, May 3

Volunteer for Sunday, May 4

Faculty, please complete the 2025 Faculty Commencement Survey.

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