Undergraduate Candidates

August undergraduate candidates have two options for participating in commencement. They can participate in either the spring commencement prior to their graduation date, or the fall commencement following their graduation date. Please contact your academic advisor for questions.

To participate in commencement:

May Ceremony: Apply to graduate in MyView (Step 1) and RSVP to participate (Step 2) following the same process and deadlines as the May candidates. While participation is not required, if you do choose to participate in commencement, you must RSVP within online application. The process and deadlines are emailed to all candidates, and they are also located on the commencement website. The RSVP deadline for August candidates is the same for May candidates. Your diploma will be mailed after your degree is conferred in August.

December Ceremony: If you completed the steps to apply for graduation and met the degree requirements (MyView), you will have already graduated and received your diploma mailed to the address on file in MyView by the December commencement. You will only need to RSVP to participate online. Follow the same process and deadlines as the December candidates. While participation is not required, you must RSVP to participate in commencement within the online application. The process and deadlines are emailed to all candidates, and they are also located on the commencement website.  

All August graduate names are printed in the fall commencement program following their graduation. However, August candidates who apply by the spring deadline will also be printed in the spring commencement program prior to their graduation. Each program will be available online the week of the ceremony. All other commencement information remains the same for August candidates.

Order Commencement Regalia

• All students, faculty, and administration taking part in the ceremony are required to wear traditional academic attire.
• Purchase your cap and gown from UMSL's vendors at the Triton Store (209 MSC) to ensure you have the correct commencement attire. 
  • Oak Hall Industries is the official vendor for caps and gowns.

• Business casual dress should be worn under gowns. This includes professional dresses, skirts, collared shirts, ties, etc. 
• Tall heels are not recommended. 
• Commencement gowns should not be altered in any way. 
• The university reserves the right to require you to wear a different gown or to remove any embellishment deemed inappropriate by authorized university officials before you are permitted to participate in the ceremony.
• See how to wear your graduate attire (specific to your degree). Staff will be present day of for any questions.

• Caps should be worn with the widow's peak in the back. 
• Use bobby pins to secure caps to longer hairstyles.
• Cap decorations must be appropriate and not block the view of those seated around you.
• All decorations must lie flat on the mortarboard. Nothing should hang over the edge, no lights should be attached and nothing should be on the skull-cap portion of the cap. 
• The university reserves the right to require you to wear a different cap or to remove any embellishment deemed inappropriate by authorized university officials before you are permitted to participate in the ceremony.

• Undergraduate students should wear their tassel on the right side of their cap at the beginning of the ceremony. After students are pronounced graduated, tassels are moved to the left side of the cap. 
• Students who have earned Latin Honors (i.e. cum laude) will receive a special tassel day of from their academic adviser in the robing room upon check-in.
  • Only the honors tassel should be worn during the ceremony.
  • Students who do not participate in the ceremony will not receive an honors tassel.
• Tassels represent the color of your college and should NOT be decorated.
• The university reserves the right to require you to wear a different tassel or to remove any embellishment deemed inappropriate by authorized university officials before you are permitted to participate in the ceremony.

• Pierre Laclede Honors College graduates will receive special honors cords from the Honors College office prior to commencement.
• Students who belong to academic honor societies recognized by UMSL may wear that organization's honor cords or pins (at the student's expense). 
• Stoles purchased (at the student's expense) or received through student organizations should be worn in moderation. 

Rehearsal
Rehearsal is not necessary for these ceremonies as you will be guided the entire time by UMSL Staff and Faculty.

Arrival

Doors will open 90 minutes before the ceremony's scheduled start time. Graduates should plan to arrive at least 45 minutes before their ceremony's scheduled start time. Upon arrival, follow this procedure:

Robing and Assembly (Mark Twain Building)

• Hold onto your walking card until you hand it to the name reader at the stage.
• Verify your:
  • Name
  • Latin honors 
• If you have any additional belongings, be sure to leave them with family or check them in the coat check before check-in as you will not be allowed to carry anything except your physical walking card or phone on stage.

2. Line-up: Head to the track and line up according to the number on your card.

Order of Ceremony

• Procession
• Singing of the National Anthem
• Welcome and introductions
• Conferring of honorary degrees (if awarded)
• Speaker
• Conferring of academic degrees
• Alumni greetings
• Recession

Recession:

Aisle marshals will direct the recession back. Please file out of the gymnasium as quickly as possible to allow event staff to prepare for the next ceremony. Graduates will return directly to the robing area without passing through the lobby. You can pick up your items from coat check then meet your guests outside of Mark Twain.

Arrival

• The Mark Twain Building will open 90 minutes before the start of each ceremony. Graduates and guests: please do not arrive before that time. You cannot bring any coats or bags with you for the procession. Please leave these items with your guests or in coat check. 

Graduate Rules of Conduct

• Possession of alcoholic beverages is prohibited.
• No chewing of gum or candy.
• The use of electrical appliances such as irons and curling irons will NOT be allowed.
• Leave all purses, bags, jackets, and additional articles with your guests or at coat check.
• No guests are allowed in the Graduate Hallway, Robing Rooms, or lower track.
• No flowers are to be carried during the ceremony.
• No excessive decorations on caps or gowns that would be deemed inappropriate or distracting. No 3D designs, lights or décor; elements used in the design must lay flat to the mortarboard board and not hang over the edge. Nothing should be on the skull-cap portion of the cap. Note: The university reserves the right to require you to remove any embellishment deemed inappropriate by authorized university officials before you are permitted to participate in the ceremony.

Students 
Please inform the Coordinator of Disability Access Services immediately of any special arrangements that will enable you to participate fully in the commencement exercises by calling 314-516-6554.

Guests 
Accessible guest seating is available on a first-come basis.

Shuttles
Shuttles will be running from the parking area to the front entrance of the Mark Twain Building.

*Interpreting services will be available for each ceremony. Interpreters will be located in front of the ramp on stage right. See map for location.