Official graduate student cap and gown pickup is on Tuesday, May 2nd 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 3rd and 4th 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 5th (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 5th, 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 6th, 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.
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 streamed live at wheaton.edu/streaming.
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.
If you anticipate needing any accommodations in order to ensure an accessible Commencement ceremony for you or your guests, please contact the Learning and Accesibility Services office at LAS@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.
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 and your family will be able to order prints; information will be sent to your my.wheaton email address. This will eliminate the need for individual photographs by family and relatives inside Edman Chapel.
Diplomas are sent after all degree requirements have been met, and all financial obligations resolved with the College. If you have any loans, please be sure to do your Loan Exit Counseling. Once these items are complete:
- 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.
Please note while we will mail diplomas on the schedule above, any diplomas mailed internationally may take several extra months to be received.
We send the diplomas to the diploma mailing address you indicated on your application for degree. 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.
See the Full Commencement Week Event Schedule