Graduate School Commencement FAQs

Official graduate student cap and gown pickup is on Tuesday, April 30^th from 10am - 5pm in the Wheaton College campus bookstore.

If you are coming in from out of town and will be unable to collect your regalia during that time, caps and gowns will be available on Wednesday and Thursday, May 1st and 2nd from 10am - 5pm in the bookstore.  Students can also pick up caps and gowns from the bookstore directly after the Commencement Rehearsal on Friday, May 3rd (around 11am).  If you are unable to pick up during any of these times, we will have your regalia at ceremony lineup on Saturday in the Library, 2nd floor, by 2pm.

Rehearsal for Commencement will begin promptly at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, May 3^rd, in the Library.  At that time, you will receive specific instructions for lining up, marching, seating, and receiving diplomas.

Commencement will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 4^th, in Edman Chapel. Please arrive for line up no later than 2:15 p.m. at the Library, 2nd floor.

Please arrive wearing your cap and gown—and don’t forget your hood, tassel, and zipper pull!  You will need to keep any personal items with you during the line-up and event. Purses, or any items that cannot fit in your pocket, are discouraged.

Students should dress in regalia for Commencement. Once you have your cap and gown on a hanger, do not iron them. We recommend steaming to get the wrinkles out. The tassel is worn on the LEFT. Because you are graduate students, there is no “turning of the tassel” during the Commencement ceremony.

Only approved adornments may be worn to Commencement. These are scholastic honors cords, student government cords, certificate stoles, and honor society cords. All adornments must be issued by the department representing the distinction.

• Women: Skirt, dress pants or dress. You will be walking across bleachers and risers; please wear flat shoes. Also please, no jeans or flip flops.
• Men: Dress shirt, tie, and slacks. Closed toe shoes are appropriate. Please, no jeans, lounge pants, or flip flops.

Yes. Please follow this link to provide an audio recording for the name reader. Please have this completed no later than Sunday, April 25^th.

Tickets have not been required for the Graduate School commencement ceremony, but please try to limit your number of guests to 10. For those who cannot be present for the ceremony, commencement will be livestreamed at this link.

Historically, there has been no specific limit and you are welcome to invite family and friends to the Graduate School Commencement ceremony, however, we recommend a limit of 10 guests per student, in order to ensure seating for everyone.

Doors will open at 2:15 p.m. for Commencement, and 8:15 a.m. for Baccalaureate. Guests who have accommodations can arrive 15 minutes prior for entrance.

Guests can bring bottled water, and they can have coats or umbrellas with them at their seats.  Guests are not allowed to bring balloons, signs, noise-makers, or food or drinks other than water to the ceremony.

If you anticipate needing any accommodations in order to ensure an accessible Commencement ceremony for you or your guests, please contact the Registrar's office at commencement@wheaton.edu as soon as possible. 

For those in wheelchairs or with limited mobility we invite you to be seated at 8:15 a.m. for baccalaureate and at 2:00 p.m. for Commencement. Please have the entire party report to the East Wing side door of Edman Chapel (the ramped door) or the West Side Edman door. If individuals need hearing assistance, Edman Chapel is equipped with a listening assistance system. A limited number of assisted listening devices are also available. Please see an usher to request such a device. 

Baccalaureate is a worship service honoring graduates. The Baccalaureate speaker will be President Ryken.

The service will be held from 9:00 - 10:15 a.m. on Sunday, May 5^th, in Edman Chapel. Caps and gowns will be worn, and you need to be present to line up no later than 8:30 a.m. at the Library. Seniors and graduate students will sit together for Baccalaureate. Guests do not need tickets for this service, and overflow seating is available in the Coray Alumni Gym.

You can view a livestream of the ceremonies online if you cannot attend in person.

Yes, a professional photographer will be taking a picture of you receiving your diploma and/or being hooded. You will be able to order prints; information will be sent to the student's my.wheaton.edu email address from the photographer.

Diplomas are sent after all degree requirements have been met according to the following schedule:

• May graduates should receive their diplomas by the end of July.
• August graduates should receive their diplomas by mid-October.
• December graduates should receive their diplomas by the end of February.

We use your my.wheaton.edu email for digital diplomas and communication and mail diplomas to the primary address that is in Banner Self Service. If that has changed or changes in the future, please contact the Registrar’s Office at registrar@wheaton.edu.

You can order graduation announcements with Jostens through the Campus Store.

You can order your transcript from our third-party vendor, Parchment, on the Wheaton portal under Banner Self Service > Student Services > Student Records > Request Official Transcript. While completing your order online, please indicate if you want the transcript order to be held until your degree is posted.