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Commencement

Graduation

Congratulations to the Class of 2024 on all your accomplishments at Wayne State! The May 2024 graduation ceremony will take place Saturday, May 4, in the Willow Bowl.

Ceremony time and location

When: Saturday, May 4, 2024

Where: Willow Bowl

The ceremony will also be livestreamed.

Time:
Graduate ceremony: 10 a.m.
Undergraduate ceremony: 1:30 p.m.

There is no rehearsal. Graduates should arrive one hour prior to the ceremony to check in north of the Humanities Building.

Information for graduates and guests

Please review the following information carefully, as there is no rehearsal for the graduation ceremony.

Inclement weather

  • In the case of inclement weather, both ceremonies will be held in Rice Auditorium.
  • Due to limited seating, wristbands will be required for entry to the undergraduate ceremony. No one will be admitted to Rice Auditorium without a wristband. These wristbands have been mailed to each graduate.  
  • Additional information will be released closer to the event.

Ceremony etiquette and tips

  • Do not bring personal items to check-in. Do not bring jewelry or valuables (including purses, cameras, etc.) with you to the ceremony.
  • Do not remove decorations, including floral arrangements, from the ceremony venues – they are used for multiple events at WSC.
  • Keep available seating clear of obstacles so everyone has a place to sit. If the ceremony is inside, it will be especially important that no seats are unusable because they have something other than a person in them.
  • Put your phone on silent mode during the ceremony.

Seating for your guests

Seating - Willow Bowl
Seating is open - first come, first served. Please have your guesets bring their preferred seating (lawn chair, blanket, etc.) with them.

Seating - Gardner Auditorium
Gardner Auditorium, located in Gardner Hall, will be open for overflow seating 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The ceremony will be livestreamed in Gardner Auditorium.

Seating - Ramsey Theatre
Ramsey Theatre, located in Peterson Fine Arts, will be open for overflow seating. The ceremony will be livestreamed in Ramsey Theatre.

Special Needs Seating
If you or any of your guests have special seating needs (e.g. using a wheelchair, crutches, hearing impaired, etc.), please contact the Records and Registration Office two weeks prior to the ceremony at [email protected] or 402-375-7239.

Caps and Gowns

Caps and gowns can be picked up at the WSC bookstore during normal business hours. If necessary, you may call the bookstore at 402-375-7099 or 1-800-228-9972, ext. 7099. Please check to see that you have been given the correct robe, mortarboard and tassel – bachelor’s robes have standard sleeves, master’s robes have a unique and oblong shaped sleeve with wrist openings. If you have received an incorrect robe, please exchange this with the bookstore before the ceremony.

With regard to mortar boards, special requests that involve family traditions or cultural heritage should be submitted to the registrar the two weeks prior to commencement and will be considered in consultation with the President.

Restrooms

  • Use Door 1 on the lower level of Carhart to access restrooms in the building.
  • The Hahn Administration Building will also be open for restroom use.

Parking

Lots 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 will be available for guest parking. Shuttle service will be provided from Lot 10.

WSC Campus Map

Conditional graduation

Graduation from WSC is contingent upon completion of your final semester. Due to time constraints regarding final grade changes for graduating students, we ask graduates to check final grades in WildcatsOnline and contact Records and Registration immediately if you think there is an error.

Graduation photos

Ceremony Photos will be here during commencement. The Ceremony Photos photographer will take your picture before we march into the ceremony and again as you receive your diploma.

Please follow the instructions of the photographer in order to keep the line moving without unnecessary delays before we march into the ceremony.

The photo proofs will be available to view on the Ceremony Photos website about a week after commencement. An email with a link to graduation photos will be sent to the email provided by WSC.

A free proof will be mailed to your permanent address about two weeks after commencement if you allowed your mailing address to be shared. Ceremony Photos will not use the address for anything other than graduation photography information.

Graduation Application

The application to graduate must be completed at least one full semester prior to graduation.

Get the details and apply for graduation.

Contact

Records and Registration
Hahn 116
Phone: 402-375-7239 or 800-228-9972
Fax: 402-375-7047
[email protected]