From the very first preparations right up to the big day, this guide highlights the most important Commencement information.
Commencement day will be filled with joy and excitement, lots of family and friends, and many rich traditions. With the information on this page, you’ll know exactly what to expect so the one thing the day won’t feature is confusion.
You are invited to participate in the 2023 Spring Graduate Commencement if you are a graduate student who plans to complete the requirements for your degree in the 2023 spring or summer term.
There is no summer Commencement ceremony.
Friday, May 5, 2023 at 4 p.m.
Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall
1001 E. 17th Street
Bloomington, IN 47408
| 1:30 p.m. | Graduates should be arriving at Wilkinson Hall. |
| 2 p.m. | Graduates should be in line at Wilkinson Hall for the processional lineup. Doors are open at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall to guest seating. Find more information about parking and seating below. |
| 3:15 p.m. | Graduate procession begins. |
| 4 p.m. | Ceremony begins. |
| 6 p.m. | The recessional concludes the ceremony. |
Parking is available for free in all lots surrounding Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall for the day. Accessible parking for graduates or guests with ADA hangtags or license plates is available in the blue lot off of 17th Street.
Guests who do not have ADA hangtags or license plates may follow the instructions listed above. Drivers may drop off guests who use wheelchairs or have limited mobility at the north lobby entrance of Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, where it is comfortable to wait until drivers have parked their vehicles and returned to the lobby.
Find more information for guest parking here.
Guest seating will be located on the east and west sides of Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
Tickets are not issued for Commencement, and graduates can bring as many guests as they wish. Guest seating is offered on a first-come, first-served basis in sections not reserved for graduates. Ushers will be stationed throughout the building to direct guests to the best possible seats.
Accessible seating is available for guests in wheelchairs and with limited mobility. Venue staff are trained to assist with special seating for guests in wheelchairs and with limited mobility. See the accessibility accommodations page for more information.
Graduate seating is arranged by school and occupies the floor and some of the stands in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Faculty marshals will lead you in the procession, then direct you to designated seating by school. Upon entering your row, please sit in the next available chair. At the beginning of the ceremony, all graduates and faculty will rise and remain standing through the singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
At the end of Commencement, please remain in your seat. Faculty marshals will direct all graduates to exit by row.
Graduates will meet in Wilkinson Hall no later than 2:00 p.m. During the processional lineup, graduates will be directed to their specific school locations, designated by bright red banners.
Graduates should wear comfortable dress shoes as there will be periods of standing and walking extended distances.
Details for faculty can be viewed here.
Full of pageantry and traditions, Commencement is the grand culmination of your college journey—and it is an experience you’ll remember and cherish! The ceremony includes a Commencement speaker, remarks from President Whitten and the provost, a student speaker, induction into the Indiana University Alumni Association, and the conferral of degrees.
During the conferral of degrees, candidates for all undergraduate and master’s degrees are recognized together by their school deans. Because of the large number of graduates, individual names (other than Ph.D. and doctorate candidates) are not announced. Consider also attending your school recognition event for a more focused program.
Candidates for Ph.D.’s and doctorate degrees will be introduced individually and hooded on the floor in front of the stage.
Remember, all graduates participating in Commencement will receive a lovely Indiana University diploma cover at the ceremony. Your diploma will be mailed to your home address at a later date.
Students who complete all requirements and apply to graduate by their programs’ stated deadlines will have their names printed in the Commencement program. Programs will be provided at the ceremony or you can download a program.
If you are not sure if you met your program’s deadline, please contact the recorder’s office in your school.
If your name has changed since you became an IU student, please contact the Commencement team at iudegree@indiana.edu to notify us not later than Monday, April 11.
Graduates will be part of a recession back to Wilkinson Hall and should coordinate a meeting place with family and friends in or near the fieldhouse.
Graduates must return their apparel in the mailer provided by Herff Jones. Failure to return apparel may result in a fine, so do not skip this important step. Caps, tassels, cords, and stoles of gratitude (for undergraduate degrees) do not need to be returned; keep them as mementos of this exciting day!
For questions or to replace missing labels, please contact Patrick Cavazos with Herff Jones at pcavazos@herffjones.com.
Graduates:
Guests:
