UNDERGRADUATE and GRADUATE Commencement Ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 11th at 10:00 a.m. at the XL Center, Downtown Hartford, CT.

Tickets are required for the ceremony. More information on tickets is included below. All students will need to request one ticket for themselves. In addition, students can request unlimited tickets for guests, family, and friends. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Live streaming of the ceremony will be available for those family and friends who are unable to attend in person; a link will be sent to you one week prior to the Commencement ceremony.

All students MUST Register via Eventbrite to attend commencement and to receive a ticket. This will ensure a reader name card is created for you and allow you and your guest’s access to seating. To help us plan the event, if you do not plan to attend, please let us know by emailing provostevents@usj.edu. Thank you very much for your anticipated assistance.

All registratioin/tickets must be reserved by April 12th. After April 12th, the student registration/ticket option will close and you will not be able to request tickets.

To RSVP:

Click this Eventbrite link to be brought to the the 2024 Commencement, University of Saint Joseph, Undergraduate and Graduate Commencement Ceremony.

Note: Once on the event page, click "Get Tickets". Once you click register you will have 10 minutes to complete the order. After 10 minutes your event link will expire.

Select:

Student Tickets (Grad & Undergrad) Commencement Ticket: Students only need to order 1 ticket which serves as your registation for the May 11th commencement ceremony.

Next select your guest tickets

General Admission - (Guest tickets): You will be able to request (unlimited tickets) for your guests, family, and friends for the May 11th Commencement Ceremony.

Note: Tickets are required for ALL guests attending, no exceptions.

Once you have selected your tickets, click "checkout" at the bottom of the screen.

This will bring you to the checkout screen. Verify that the number of tickets you are ordering is correct.

Fill out your first name, last name, email, and USJ ID number. Be sure to use the name USJ has on file so that your registration can be verified against our records. Orders that don't match University records will be subject to cancellation.

After you complete the questions at the bottom of the screen about attending and Accessibility Services, your ticket will be released and emailed to you in a PDF file.

Frequently Asked Questions

Eligibility/Requirements

How do I know if I am approved to graduate? If you have any questions about your ability to graduate you should contact the Registrar's Office at 860.231.5225 or registrar@usj.edu

Are there other important obligations I should be aware of before I graduate? Yes, please note the following: Financial Obligations: All financial obligations to the University must be met prior to the release of your diploma. Loan Obligations: If you are a federal loan recipient, you are required to complete exit counseling prior to leaving the University. Questions concerning this requirement should be directed to the Office of Student Financial Services. Regardless of your intention to participate in the commencement ceremony, you must complete exit counseling

Am I eligible to participate in Commencement if I intend to graduate in the upcoming summer term? Students intending to graduate in summer 2024 may participate in the May commencement. Students must have applied for summer graduation. Attending commencement does not guarantee conferral of your degree. Please refer to the Commencement Walking Policy in the USJ Catalog for more information.

If I completed my requirements in an earlier term, can I still walk in the ceremony? Yes, if you have completed your requirements in Fall 2023 you may walk at the May Commencement ceremony.

Diplomas

Will I receive my diploma at Commencement? No, at commencement you will receive a diploma holder. You will receive your diploma over the summer (for May graduates) or in the fall (for August graduates)

Why are diploma’s not handed out at Commencement? In order for students to have their degrees conferred all grades must be first sent to the Registrar's Office and calculated. Once the final grades are calculated, diplomas are created at an offsite location. This process takes about two months to complete and finally get mailed to the student address on record.

RSVP

How do I RSVP for Commencement? Use the Eventbrite link sent to your email. Further instructions on the specifics of registering for commencement are listed on the Eventbrite page.

What if I’ve RSVP’d to Commencement but am not no longer able to attend? If there is a change in your commencement attendance plan, please email Office of the Provost at: provostevents@usj.e du.

Ceremony Information

How early are you allowed to arrive at XL Center? Students and guests are not permitted to arrive to the XL Center prior to 8:30 a.m. Prior to this the final stages of commencement set up will still be underway.

When does the ceremony begin? The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m., but the procession will begin at 9:30 a.m.

How long does the commencement ceremony last? Approximately 2 hours.

Where do I report for the ceremony? All graduating degree candidates must report to the XL Center, Downtown, Hartford by 8:30 a.m. on May 11th for line up. Staff members will be there to assist you.

Is reserved seating available? No, seating is available for guests on a first come, first- served basis.

Who is my ceremony speaker? "To be announced at a later date."

Is parking available? Yes, the XL Center has parking and there are surrounding parking lots.

How many guest tickets am I allowed? Guests tickets are UNLIMITED

Student Seating/Line-Up

What school do I line-up with if I am receiving multiple degrees? If you are receiving multiple degrees from different schools please email the Office of the Provost at: provostevents@usj.edu. You will be permitted to select the school you would like to process/sit with. When you walk across the stage to receive your diploma cover both of your degrees will be read, regardless of the school you elect to sit with. For all other graduates: You must sit with the school in which you are earning your degree, Sorry, no exceptions!

I am receiving Teacher Licensure - Which school do I line-up with? If you a receiving teacher licensure you should sit with the school that your major is included in.

Help! I’m not sure what school I am a part of? Here is a guideline of the majors in each school.

School of Arts, Sciences, Business, and Education: Accounting, Art History, Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Computer and Data Science, Digital Media and Communication, English, History & Society, Management, Mathematics, Political Science, Religious Studies, Spanish, Special Education.
School of Interdisciplinary Health and Sciences: Counseling, Applied Behavioral Analysis, Child Studies, Criminal Justice, Exercise Science, Health Science, Nursing, Nutrition , Public Health, Psychology, Social Work.

School of Pharmacy and Physician Assistant Studies: Pharmacy, Physician Assistant Studies.

Staff members will be available at Commencement to answer questions, assist and direct you to your appropriate school.

Regalia

When and where do I get my cap and gown? Cap and gown may be purchased from the Balfour Buildagrad website. Regalia is now on sale through March 31, 2024. Please use this link to order your cap and gown link: https://www.buildagrad.com/usj. Regalia will NOT be sold at Commencement.

How much does my regalia cost?
Bachelor Package – Cap, Gown, Tassel and Hood - $79.90
Master Package – Cap, Gown, Tassel and Hood - $94.90
Doctoral Package – Tam with gold Rayon Tassel, Gown and Hood - $134.94
Regalia information link: https://www.buildagrad.com/usj

Can I use my own cap/gown or do I have to purchase them? No, you may not use your own cap/gown. Regalia must be purchased from the Balfour Buildagrad website to ensure uniformity among the graduates.

Can I decorate my cap? Yes, you may decorate your cap. However, caps containing offensive, inappropriate, or vulgar language will not be permitted during the ceremony. Students who have offensive decorations may not be allowed to participate in the ceremony.

Do I have to wear a cap and gown? Yes. All participating students must wear the cap, gown, hood, and tassel purchased through the Balfour Buildagrad website. No exceptions will be made

Honors Cords

I am graduating with honors, will I receive an honor's cord? The Registrar’s Office will contact qualifying undergraduate candidates with information about where and when they can pick up their honor cord. If you have any questions about honors cords please contact the Registrar's Office directly at 860.231.5225 or registrar@usj.edu.

Can I wear other cords or regalia from clubs and honor societies? Only cords for University honors (distributed by the Registrar’s Office for undergraduate students) and from official academic honor societies are permitted at commencement. Other clubs/societies may have sashes students are permitted to wear. Please check with your individual society for more information.

Special Accommodations/Accessibility Services

Is there special seating/parking for family members with mobility issues? Individuals needing limited mobility or wheelchair-accessible seating for commencement should arrive early at the XL Center. XL Center staff will be able to show your guest as well as one companion to an accessible seating section. XL Center staff will attempt to seat the rest of your guests as close to the section as possible. As seats are first-come, first-served, early arrival to the XL Center is encouraged.

Who do I contact if I need special accommodations (i.e. mobility, hearing, other)? Please email the details of your situation to Abby Lyn Dorman, Accessiblity Services at adorman@usj.edu with any access questions or concerns.

Miscellaneous Questions

Where do I find commencement information? Students eligible to participate in commencement will begin having applicable information sent to their USJ email account in mid-February. General information can be found on the Commencement website: Commencement page and is updated as needed.

Can I get a Commencement program prior to Commencement? Unfortunately, no, they are not available prior to the event. Programs are available at the ceremony and thereafter, beginning Monday, May 13th though September 1st (while supplies last) in the Office of the Provost. Programs will not be mailed, but students are able come to campus at any point during the summer to pick up extra Commencement Programs.

Where do I order my Commencement photographs? Commencement photographs are done by an off-campus organization. A photographer will take pictures of each graduate receiving a diploma. Graduate will receive cost and ordering information directly from the photographer sent to your home address.

2024 Commencement , University of Saint Joseph