Information for Degree Candidates

See the steps degree candidates must follow to prepare for the Commencement ceremonies. 

happy graduate

Commencement events are the congratulatory ceremonies hosted by university officials in which degree candidates (students who have applied to graduate at the end of their final semester) are publicly and formally recognized for their accomplishments as members of an academic community.

Graduation is the process of being awarded a degree after successfully completing credit hours and other degree requirements. Actual diplomas are not awarded at Commencement ceremonies and participation in the ceremonies is not a guarantee of degree completion. 

Electronic correspondence regarding graduation and Commencement is sent only to degree candidate TU email accounts. Degree candidates are responsible for information sent to them via their TU email.

Checklist for Degree Candidates

1

Apply for Graduation

You must complete all of your degree requirements in order to apply for graduation and participate in Commencement. You must submit an official Graduation Application through the “Student Dashboard.” The deadline and instructions for applying can be found on Applying to Graduate.  If you have questions about your graduation status please contact the Graduation Office at 410-704-2095 or .

Only degree candidates who have registered for Commencement are permitted to obtain a cap and gown.   

2

Register for Commencement

Attending your academic college's Commencement ceremony is an optional activity. If you choose to participate in your ceremony, you must register your attendance online to ensure your seat and the availability of guest tickets.  The registration site will open approximately 10 weeks before the ceremonies and eligible candidates will receive an email with registration instructions. Resgistration will open October 10, 2022 and be closed November 18. 2022. As a reminder, only degree candidates who have been approved for graduation by the Graduation Office are permitted to register for Commencement.  If you have questions about registration to participate in a Commencement Ceremony contact the Office of the Provost at 410-704-4498 or .

3

Purchase Regalia

Once you are registered for Commencement in Marching Order, you will receive a confirmation email of registration with the link to order the cap and gown through Herff Jones. Herff Jones direct ships the cap and gown to address given. Deadline to register and order cap and gown is Friday, November 18th.

Failure to purchase regalia (or to seek approval from the University Store to use regalia borrowed from a prior semester's graduate) will lead to cancellation of your commencement registration and you will be ineligible to participate in a ceremony and receive ceremony tickets. See Ceremony Attire for additional information. 

Special Note:The deadline for doctoral degree candidates to rent gown and tam (cap) will be Friday, November 18th. If a doctoral degree candidate wishes to purchase custom gown, tam or hood please contact the Ustore. All custom regalia orders must be placed with a 6-8 weeks lead time to manufacture.

For general information, See Ceremony Attire for additional information. 

4

Access Tickets

Only degree candidates who have registered for Commencement and purchased a cap and gown by the deadline will be able to access and print ceremony tickets.  Every student who registers for Commencement and purchases a cap and gown is guaranteed a predetermined amount of tickets for guests.  Graduates will recieve their email for tickets Wednesday December 7, 2022. All emails will be sent sent out no later than Thursday December 8, 2022. More information can be found at Tickets.

Note: Please remember to print and give your guests their tickets in advance of the ceremonies. As a reminder, all guests (including infants and children as required by the Fire Marshal) will need a ticket to attend, so please plan accordingly.

5

Parking

All graduates will receive one “graduate parking permit” for their ceremony.  Parking will be limited so graduates are strongly encouraged to carpool in the vehicle with the graduate parking permit.  Commencement shuttles will run continuously between Union Parking Garage and SECU Arena for all graduates and guests beginning two hours prior to the ceremony.  Guests without a parking permit should park in Union Parking Garage.  For additional commencement parking, commencement flyer, and shuttle information, please visit:  https://www.towson.edu/parking/events/, email , or call 410-704-PARK during business hours.

6

Prepare for Ceremony Day

  • ARRIVAL – All graduates must arrive no later than 8:30am (if ceremony is at 10:00am) and no later than 1:30pm (if ceremony is at 3:00pm) to Towson Center Gymnasium for the pre-ceremony line up with their caps and gowns and line up in the gym prior to the ceremony in the SECU Arena.  Your guests should proceed to SECU Arena for seating.  Please take into account traffic, parking and shuttling to the SECU Arena so that you arrive on time.  Arriving late could prevent you from being in your expected place in line.
  • ATTIRE –  Graduates should also expect to be standing for at least an hour and walking a short distance between the Towson Center for line up and the SECU arena for the ceremony. 
  • THINGS TO BRING:  Cap, Gown, & Tassel, printed out GradPass (recommeded),  phone with screenshot of your Gradpass (backup)

Commencement FAQs

  • GRADPASS – The GradPass is what will be scanned to have your name read when you walk across the stage at the ceremony.  It also includes your line up number.
    • Please check your TU email  for an email from Commencement with a link to your GradPass. 
    • View your updated GradPass and take a screenshot with your phone (this will ensure you have it on your phone in case there is a data access issue)
    • If possible, print a copy of your GradPass and bring it with you as a backup.

If you are a candidate with a disability who will require accommodation at the ceremony, please specify this when completing your commencement registration form. Additionally please communicate the specifics of your request to .

No. Candidates who complete double majors will be assigned to one ceremony to participate in Commencement. To provide space for all degree candidates who are eligible to attend a Commencement ceremony, undergraduate candidates completing double majors are not permitted to participate in two ceremonies. If you would prefer to attend the alternate major/college’s ceremony, please contact the Commencement office.

The deadlines to apply for graduation are well-publicized by the Graduation Office.  While graduation applications are processed after the deadline, only those degree candidates who apply prior to the stated deadline(s) are guaranteed to have their names published in the Commencement program due to the lengthy proofing and printing processes.

Diplomas will be mailed to your permanent address on file. Please be sure to go to your Student Dashboard to ensure that the permanent address on file is accurate. You may check with the Graduation Office for information about the diploma mailing schedules.


Please be advised that fraudulent activity or misrepresentation of information or eligibility to participate in commencement may result in disciplinary action through the TU Office of Student Conduct and Civility Education.