Congratulations to the Class of 2024!

Graduates receive their name card at check-in.

 
Graduate Connections
9:30 a.m. –10:30 a.m.

After you arrive and check in, you and your guests can meet and mingle with faculty, staff, and other graduates on the ground level (atrium,) mid-level (mezzanine,) and upper-level (concourse) off the main entrance. The Alumni Association will greet you as you arrive and Excelsior t-shirts and purple alumni cords will be offered for sale. Faculty and academic departments will be located on the mid-level (mezzanine) which is one flight up. Our roaming photographers will be taking photos that will be uploaded to a site for downloading for free at your convenience. Instructions will be shared by photographers. Photo backgrounds will be available too. Excelsior looks forward to meeting you!

Note: Lineup for the processional begins at 10:30 a.m., so be sure to check in before 10:30 a.m. Academic advisors will be in the lineup area to greet and congratulate you, and you can go to the lineup area as early as you’d like after checking in.

Reminder: College of Nursing and Health Sciences graduates and guests should use the stairs on the left and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences should use the stairs on the right – both will be marked with a sign.

Associate and Bachelor’s degree graduates: Please wear your hood.

Master’s degree graduates: Please drape your hood over your arm. You will carry it in the processional and as you walk toward the stage, you will hand it to the hooding marshals who will place it over your head before you proceed to the ramp to the stage.

How To Wear your Commencement Regalia

Processional: Begins promptly at 11:00 a.m. Please stay in formation and order. Deans and marshals will lead the lines of the Colleges and assist with graduate seating.

Presentation of Graduates: Facing the stage, the College of Nursing and Health Sciences will be seated in the left-side seating section on the Arena floor and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences will be seated in the right-side seating section. All graduates will cross the stage from left to right in this order: College of Nursing and Health Sciences then College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

• Marshals and staff will guide graduates by row to the stage.
• Leave your program at your seat. Bring only your name card to the stage.
• Once on stage, your name will be scanned, and you will hand it to the announcer (Executive Dean) at the microphone. Proceed across the stage to accept your diploma cover and be greeted by Excelsior leadership with your name and degree displaying on the large ceremony screens.
• Master’s graduates only: Please drape your hood over your arm. You will carry it as you walk toward the stage and hand it to the hooding marshals who will place it over your head before you proceed to the ramp to the stage.
• Your name and degree will be displayed on the screens as you walk across the stage and Island Photography with take your photo. Proceed down the ramp, another photo will be taken, and return to your seat.

Recessional: At the close of the ceremony, stay seated. First, the platform party will exit the stage, followed by faculty and alumni, and then graduates. All exit from front to back. Marshals will assist, please remain seated until it is your row’s turn to exit. Guests are asked to remain seated until the recessional leaves the floor of the Arena.