Saint John’s University Student Information

Commencement Ceremony

The commencement ceremony will take place on Sunday, May 14, at 2 p.m. in the Abbey Church.

Academic Attire

Traditional academic attire will be worn at commencement (cap, gown and hood). Academic attire will be issued to all degree candidates at the Grad Finale on Wednesday, March 22. Honor cords will be distributed at commencement rehearsal on Friday, May 12.

Grad Finale

Wednesday, March 22, Sexton Commons (outside of the bookstore) – 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

More information here: https://www.csbsju.edu/bookstore/graduation-information. In the event you are unable to attend Grad Finale on March 22, you can pick up your cap and gown at the SJU Bookstore after March 22.

Commencement Ceremony Tickets

Admission to the ceremony in the Abbey Church is by electronic ticket only. Each graduate is entitled to four general admission guest tickets. The number of tickets allocated is based on the number of graduates and the seating capacity of the church. We will not have any extra tickets for distribution. The ceremony can also be viewed in the Stephen B. Humphrey Theater, open to the public at 1 p.m. (no ticket required). Please notify your guests that following the Community Mass on Sunday, everyone must vacate the church. The doors will re‑open at 1 p.m. and entrance will be by electronic ticket only. Secure your tickets HERE.

Ceremony Ticket Reservations

Each graduate may have up to four guests attend the Abbey Church ceremony. It will be required that all guests be pre-registered for tickets for the ceremony. Tickets will be non-transferrable and additional tickets will not be available. Graduates will receive an email regarding how to reserve tickets from [email protected] by mid-April. In this email, the graduate will receive an individualized code that must be used to reserve their four guest tickets for general admission. The graduate will receive their guest’s tickets via email within 24 hours of reserving their tickets.

Commencement Luncheon

Each graduate will receive five complimentary luncheon tickets (four guests and one for the graduate) for the commencement luncheon, which will be served in Guild Hall and the Refectory from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Additional tickets can be purchased at the doors of Guild Hall and the Refectory the day of commencement. The cost of the tickets will be $13.90 for adults/$9.90 for ages 3-10.

Commencement Luncheon Ticket Distribution

Your complimentary luncheon tickets will be distributed in the Bookstore on Thursday, May 11, between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., and Friday, May 12, between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Tickets will be available for off-campus degree candidates in the Bookstore on Saturday, May 13, between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m., or on Sunday, May 14, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. You must pick up your own tickets and present your I.D. card to claim them.

Ticket Reservations

Each graduate may have up to four guests attend the Abbey Church ceremony. It will be required that all guests be preregistered for tickets for the ceremony. Tickets will be nontransferrable and additional tickets will not be available. Guests will agree to abide by all COVID-19 protocols in place on campus the day of the event. Graduates will receive an email regarding tickets from [email protected] by mid-April. In this email the graduate will receive an individualized code that must be used to reserve their four guest tickets for general admission. The graduate will receive their guests’ tickets via email within 24 hours of reserving their tickets.

Rehearsal

Rehearsal for the commencement ceremony will take place on Friday, May 12, at 12:45 p.m. Rehearsal is mandatory for all graduates.

Please line up on the walkway in front of Mary Hall, extending down the walkway past Simons Hall. Line-up information will be posted with numerical and alphabetical markings along the walkway. In the event of rain, line up will be in Guild Hall. If a graduate cannot attend the rehearsal or ceremony, please contact Denise Laudenbach in the Registrar’s Office at [email protected].

Academic Procession

The academic procession will form at 1:15 p.m. on the walkway in front of Mary Hall. If it is raining steadily at 1:15 p.m., the procession will form on the first floor of the Quadrangle. Graduates will receive detailed instructions as to their proper position in the procession (rain or shine) at the rehearsal on May 12.

Diploma

On receipt of evidence that all studies undertaken this term have been successfully completed, and that all requirements for the appropriate degree have been successfully met, a diploma will be issued to the graduate. The diploma will indicate their degree and the date on which it was conferred. An official transcript of academic record attesting to the degree(s) and honors received will be mailed to the graduate, along with their diploma, in early July.

Photographs

GradImages will be photographing all graduates as they receive their diploma at the commencement ceremony. Learn more at www.gradimages.com.

Commencement Livestream

To view the livestream of the ceremony, a link will be added on this website for the 2023 SJU Commencement. There will be a signal available to check your connection 15 minutes prior to commencement.

Archived Video

The commencement ceremony will be recorded. A free YouTube link of the ceremony will be posted to the commencement website one week after commencement.