FAQs - Commencement
Frequently Asked Questions about Commencement
Are graduates allowed to bring guests to commencement?
Each graduate will receive 6 allocated tickets to the 2026 Commencement ceremony in Sturrus and can request additional tickets. There will be Alternate Viewing Areas in the Wege Ballroom and the Loutit Room. > more details
For those who cannot attend in person, a professional livestream video of the Commencement ceremony will be provided. The livestream video will be closed-captioned. It will also be available after the ceremony on the for viewing anytime.
Does a baby or child who can sit on my lap need a ticket?
Yes, a baby or child will need a ticket.
How can those who cannot attend the commencement ceremony watch it?
Links to all livestream videos are available on our Livestreams page. Following the ceremony, a livestream recording will be available on the for viewing anytime.
What is GradFest and what if I miss it?
You can find out more about GradFest here.
If you cannot attend GradFest and still need to pick up your tickets, please get in touch with the Registrar's Office to arrange ticket pick-up.
To get your regalia, contact the ºìÌÒÊÓƵ Bookstore at aquinas@bkstr.com or 616-632-2962.
To pick up honor cords, stop by the Registrar's Office between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday, or 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday. The Registrar's Office is in Hruby Hall's basement, Suite 30.
Who do I contact if I have questions about commencement activities?
Please email your questions to commencement@aquinas.edu.
Health and Safety
What are the health and safety protocols for the Commencement ceremony?
The College will follow recommendations from medical, public health, government, and higher education experts, particularly those from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the State of Michigan, and the Kent County Health Department (KCHD).
Graduation Requirements
How do I know if I am approved for graduation?
Students must apply for graduation on , under "Graduation Application," which will show the submitted date when completed. If you do not have a submitted graduation application on Self Service, please complete the application as soon as possible.
The Registrar’s Office will notify students by email regarding their graduation approval status based on the term selected. Approval indicates that the student is registered for all required courses needed to complete their degree requirements. If a student is not approved, it means there are outstanding requirements that still need to be fulfilled. Any questions regarding outstanding requirements should be directed to the Registrar’s Office.
If you have any other questions in regards to the approval process, please contact the Registrar's Office at registrar@aquinas.edu.
What is my Primary Major/Degree Title, and why is it important?
Your degree title is either Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Your degree title correlates to your primary major. For example, if a student is a History major (primary major), they will earn a Bachelor of Arts (degree title).
If a student is double-majoring, they must pick their primary major. For example, if a student is double-majoring in History (BA) and Psychology (BS), they need to choose if they want the Bachelor of Arts (BA) or the Bachelor of Science (BS) to be their degree title. A student who is double-majoring will earn only one degree. They must pick one or the other. The primary degree choice will be printed on the diploma and announced at commencement.
To confirm which degree will be listed, please review your Graduation Application on . For additional questions, please contact registrar@aquinas.edu.
How do I know if I qualify for Honor Cords or Stoles?
ºìÌÒÊÓƵ College awards honor cords to undergraduate students based on their most recently completed entire semester cumulative GPA.
Several departments and organizations offer additional honor cords and stoles.
You can learn about all these options here.
What if I need to order a final transcript for graduate school or employment?
Transcripts can be ordered online 24/7 through the .
If you have questions about transcripts and transcript orders, please read more here.
When will I receive my diploma?
Diplomas are mailed to the home address listed on the student's Graduation Application. Learn more about diploma shipping times and address changes.
What if I want to change how my name is printed on my diploma?
The name printed on your diploma corresponds to what you listed on your Graduation Application. Your diploma is a legal document and must reflect your legal name. To change how you would like your name printed on your diploma, contact the Registrar's Office as soon as possible to avoid misprints. If you have recently changed your name, you must provide legal documentation to the Registrar's Office (i.e., a copy of your Driver’s License).
What if I need to postpone my graduation?
If you need to be moved to the following graduation period, please contact the Registrar's Office.
What if I have a financial hold on my account?
Your diploma will be released only if your account balance is zero. If you are unsure of your balance, check on or contact Student Accounts at (616) 632-2864. Once your balance is paid, Student Accounts will inform the Registrar's Office, and your diploma will be released.
Commencement Day
What do I wear to the Baccalaureate Mass?
When attending the Baccalaureate Mass, graduates are strongly encouraged to wear their gown, hood, cord/s, stole (if you choose), and cap.
What do I wear to the Commencement ceremony?
When participating in the Commencement ceremony, you must wear the gown, hood, cords, stole (if you choose), and cap. Watch our videos on how to wear your commencement regalia properly.
We ask that graduates not wear spiked/high heels, as they are a tripping hazard on the grated ramp to the graduation stage and may damage Coach Bo Court.
Also, please limit what you bring. There is no storage for personal items in Alksnis, and no personal belongings can be left behind.
What time should I arrive for the Baccalaureate Mass? Where do I go?
Graduates should arrive at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew by 9:30 a.m. Parking is available
in the Cathedral parking lot or the Catholic Information Center parking lot.
Graduates will line up in the plaza outside the cathedral and enter the church as part of the academic procession before Mass.
What time should I arrive for my Commencement ceremony? Where do I check in?
Graduates will check in at Alksnis. The west entrance of Alksnis, accessed through the Mayfield Lot (Lot #4), will open for check-in at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 9. Graduates must arrive by 1:30 p.m.
Where and when do graduates line up for the Commencement ceremony?
At check-in at Alksnis, graduates will receive a card with their name printed on it.
Please DON'T LOSE OR WRITE ON THIS CARD. Keep this card with you because that's the
name that will be read as you cross the stage.
Graduates will be lined up alphabetically by the degree of Associate, Bachelor, and Master on the Alksnis track. They will be led in procession outside Alksnis, through the Mayfield lot, and around Sturrus’ front entry, where they will continue to process into Coach Bo's gymnasium.
Will there be a commencement procession?
Graduates will process from the west side of Alksnis through the Mayfield Lot and
around into Sturrus Sports and Fitness Center. There will be a cordon of faculty,
board of trustees, and cabinet members for the students to process through at the
front entry to Sturrus. The procession will not be livestreamed.
What if it rains?
The College will monitor the weather before commencing activities. In the event of inclement weather, any changes to commencement activities will be communicated to graduates.
Where do I park for my Commencement ceremony?
Please take a look at the Commencement Parking page.
Will programs be available at the Commencement ceremony?
Printed and digital programs will be available for graduates and guests at the ceremony.
Will graduates receive diplomas at the Commencement ceremony?
Graduates will not receive their diplomas at the commencement ceremony. Diplomas are mailed to the graduate’s home address 6-8 weeks after the Commencement ceremony, after all degree requirements have been verified as complete. If degree requirements have not been completed, students will be contacted by the Registrar's Office via email.
Will graduates walk across the stage?
Yes, graduates will be walking across a stage.
What do you think about commencement photography?
Full details about registering for professional photography are on the Commencement Photography page.
Will there be an alternate viewing location on campus?
Yes, there will be alternate viewing locations. Get more info here.
Post-Commencement
Will there be a video recording available after commencement?
A recording of the Commencement ceremony live stream will be available on the following the event for viewing at any time.