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Graduation
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Graduation, Commencement, Convocation
Graduation is the action of completing your degree requirements. Commencement and Convocation are ceremonies to celebrate the accomplishment of graduation. Commencement is the university-wide celebration at which degrees are conferred upon graduating students by the president of Arizona State University. College and cultural convocations are a time for smaller groups to gather and celebrate students’ graduation. Convocation events are where your name is called and you will cross the stage to receive congratulations and a diploma cover. Ceremonies are held in May and December.
Spring 2024 ceremonies will take place the week of May 6, 2024. There will be options to watch live streamed ceremonies.
Graduate Commencement, Monday, May 6, 2024, 9:00am, Desert Financial Arena
Undergraduate Commencement, Monday, May 6, 2024, 7:30pm, Mountain America Stadium, Frank Kush Field
Herberger Institute Convocation, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, 9:00am, Desert Financial Arena
Ceremony Live Feed
Guests that are not able to attend in person they can watch a live feed of the ceremony by going to https://graduation.asu.edu/ceremonies/latest, scrolling to the Herberger Institute convocation and clicking on “View” on the far right side of the screen. A schedule of all ceremonies can be found at https://graduation.asu.edu/ceremonies/latest.
Graduate Check-in
All graduating students need to check in by 8:30 a.m. at the SE entrance of Mountain America Stadium (formerly Sun Devil Stadium) to get their reader card. Check in will open at 7:45 a.m. ONLY GRADUATES AND FACULTY WILL BE ALLOWED INTO THIS AREA. After checking in, Undergraduates, Masters, and their faculty hooders will proceed down the West Tunnel into Desert Financial Arena to pre-seat before the ceremony starts. Doctoral recipients will proceed to Carson Student Center to line up for processional.
Academic regalia will be required for this ceremony. Do not put on your gown until after you have passed through security in the arena. There are no secure locations to dress or store personal belongings. Avoid bringing any extra items with you beyond what you will need for the ceremony. Please be aware of the ASU Bag Policy.
Doctoral candidates will be directed to the appropriate gathering area when they check in. They will walk in as part of the processional, and must be in line by 8:40 a.m.
Masters candidates will need to meet up with their faculty hooder and then find their seat on the arena floor as indicated on their reader card acquired at check-in. DO NOT WEAR your hood. It will be put on you during the ceremony. You must be seated no later than 8:45 a.m. If you do not have a hooder, one of the faculty in attendance can hood you during the ceremony.
Bachelor degree candidates will be pre-seated by college in the arena as indicated on their reader card acquired at check-in. You must be seated no later than 8:45 a.m.
Student seats not filled by 8:45 a.m. will be released to the general public.
Volunteers will be available to help graduates find where they should be. Graduates should arrange to meet guests at a specified location outside of Desert Financial Arena after the ceremony concludes.
Parking
Prepare for heavy traffic coming to and around the venue. Plan your travel to the arena accordingly. Free parking is available in lots around the arena and in most parking areas on campuses the day of convocations. Parking information for Sun Devil Stadium and Desert Financial Arena, including disabled parking and shuttle service can be viewed at https://graduation.asu.edu/guests/parking. There will also be ADA parking available in Lot 59, on the Northeast and Southeast sides of the arena. There will be a couple of carts circling Lot 59, but there is no specific schedule and we cannot guarantee a specific arrival or departure time. A map of ADA parking and the Courtesy Shuttle for Desert Financial Arena can be found HERE. For more information please refer to the Parking & Transportation page on https://graduation.asu.edu/.
Accessibility Needs
Information on accessibility and inclusivity for graduates and guests can be viewed at https://graduation.asu.edu/guests/accessibility. There will be closed captioning and American Sign Language interpreters at the event.
Security
ALL Graduates, faculty and guests will go through security, including a bag check, when entering the arena. Graduates and faculty must carry their gown when clearing security. Gowns may be put on after clearing security. Please plan for lines at the security check and plan your arrival accordingly.
All ASU Ceremonies adhere to the Clear Bag Policy. Please review this policy at clearbags.asu.edu. Banners and/or signs of any shape and size are not permitted inside of any ceremony venue. Graduates or guests not following this policy may be turned away at the doors to return items to their cars.
Arena Admission
Doors to Desert Financial will open at 8:00 am. Volunteers will be on site to assist in finding seats. NO TICKETS are required for Herberger Institute Convocation guests. The convocation ceremony is scheduled to last two hours. Graduates and guests should remain in the arena for the duration of the ceremony.
University commencement and convocation ceremonies are special events for all involved. Please show respect for everyone who has come to share in the experience. Individuals who engage in inappropriate or disruptive behavior will be removed from the event.
Grad Images Photography
Grad Images Photography is the official photographer of ASU commencement events. There is a pre-registration system, which allows you to provide your email and mailing address information before the ceremony. You can also add information for family members. Pre-register now.
Flowers and Gifts
Arizona State University partners with The Commencement Group for our graduation ceremonies to provide special commemorative flowers and gift items for sale during commencement. These special gift items include T-Shirts featuring all graduates' names and Kukui Spirit Necklaces Students. Graduates and guests are encouraged to pre-order for pick up before the ceremony so they can wear their leis on stage and in pictures. Orders can be placed until 9pm the evening before a ceremony takes place.
Your Diploma
Diplomas are mailed approximately 10-12 weeks after the degree conferral date. Your diploma from ASU will include your name and the degree you have earned. The concentration is not included on your diploma, but is included on your transcript. For instance, students earning a Bachelor of Arts in Art degree with a concentration in Art History will receive a diploma that states, "Bachelor of Arts in Art" and students earning a Master of Music in Performance with a concentration in orchestral instruments will receive a diploma that states, "Master of Music in Performance." Your transcript will show your degree concentration which you also can list on your resume.
Diploma cover request
If you plan to attend an in-person event you will receive your diploma cover then. If you do not plan to attend an in-person event, please fill out the request form and let us know where you would like your diploma cover sent. Covers will be mailed out a few weeks after the graduation ceremonies.
Need more information?
Check your asu.edu email. ASU and the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts will use your asu.edu email address for all graduation and Convocation communications.
Visit the graduation section of the university registrar’s website for more information.
Questions?
Visit the commencement FAQ page or email HerbergerGraduation@asu.edu.
Steps to apply for graduation
Step 1: Register for your final semester
By now, you should have registered for your final semester.
Step 2: Check that you have completed all your degree requirements
- Undergraduates: Run your DARS Report to confirm that all requirements are met. If you encounter any discrepancies, make an appointment with a Herberger Institute academic advisor immediately. Summer graduates are eligible to walk in the spring commencement and convocation if they have 11 or fewer hours left to graduate; contact an advisor for more information about walking early.
- Graduates: As a graduate student in the ASU Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, there are certain steps you need to take that ensure a successful, on-time graduation. Please review details concerning the graduation process for ASU here: Graduation Deadlines and Procedures.
Step 3: Check your deadline
To apply for graduation, complete the graduation process by the appropriate deadline.
If you are completing your degree in: | Your deadline is: |
Fall | October 1 |
Spring | February 15 |
Summer | June 15 |
- You can apply to graduate online or in-person. To apply online, logon to your My ASU account and click the "Graduation" tab in the My Programs box. Click the "Apply for Graduation" link and follow the instructions on the screen. The graduation fee will be charged to your account. To apply in-person, go to the Student Services Building (SSV) and pay for graduation at the cashier's office. Complete the questionnaire the cashier gives you and take it to the graduation office on the first floor of the Student Services Building (SSV).
- You can apply for graduation the semester prior to or the semester of graduation, but be sure to apply before the deadline to avoid a late charge. The names of students who apply after the deadline will not appear in the ASU commencement program. Note the deadline dates listed on the university calendar. The graduation office will check your DARS report or program of study to make sure that you have completed the requirements for your degree. Undergraduates who will graduate in the summer are eligible to "walk" in spring commencement and convocation if they have 11 or fewer hours left to graduate, but they will not receive their diplomas until all degree requirements have been completed. Students who will "walk" in the spring convocation ceremony but finish their requirements in the summer must apply for a summer graduation and notify their advisor in the Office of Student Success that they plan to participate in the spring ceremony.
- Order your cap, gown and invitations through the ASU Bookstore. More information.
Step 4: Register to attend convocation
All students that have applied for Spring or Summer 2024 graduation will be included. Graduates will submit a single registration for the college and special interest convocation events through the RSVP button on your MyASU. The RSVP system will be open until mid-April. Check your asu.edu email for updates.