Information for Degree Candidates

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

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 graduation AT_TOWSON.

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

Special Note: The deadline for doctoral students to rent regalia will be announced. If you plan to purchase a custom doctoral gown and tam, the deadline to place your order will be announced. Your hood will provided to you by the Office of Graduate Studies.

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. 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 commencement AT_TOWSON.

Registration will close April 8, 2022

3

Purchase Regalia

Contact the Ustore to purchase your regalia. 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.

We are aware of some ongoing shipping issues with caps and gowns from the vendor, Herff Jones. We have been repeatedly assured by the vendor that all regalia will be delivered in time for next week’s ceremonies.

We are providing the following statement from Herff Jones:

“Herff Jones is working diligently to minimize delays in fulfilling orders for graduation regalia caused by global supply chain disruptions and labor shortages. Regrettably, these factors have caused us to fall behind schedule. The company is working to ship all remaining orders to students at Towson University in time to celebrate graduation on May 25-27. We apologize for the inconvenience this has caused students and are committed to ensuring that every student has their regalia to cross the stage.”

In addition, the U Store has a contingency supply of in the event any orders go undelivered, and has placed additional bulk orders of regalia as a further fallback measure. If you have not received your order by the day before your ceremony, please email the U Store Ustore AT_TOWSON.

For general information, please see the commencement page at https://www.towson.edu/commencement/.

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. Dates and instructions for accessing tickets can be found on 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 should have received 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 all TU garages and Unitas Stadium for all graduates and guests beginning two hours prior to the ceremony. Guests without a parking permit should park in West Village Garage or Towsontown Garage. For additional commencement parking, commencement flyer, and shuttle information, please visit: https://www.towson.edu/parking/events/, email upark AT_TOWSON, or call 410-704-PARK during business hours.

6

Prepare for Ceremony Day

ARRIVAL – All graduates must arrive no later than 7:30am to Gate 1 (by the tiger statue) of the SECU Arena for the pre-ceremony line up with their caps and gowns. Your guests should proceed to Unitas Stadium 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 – The ceremonies will take place rain or shine with all graduates being seated on the Unitas Stadium turf field. Due to the texture of the turf, graduates wearing stiletto-like heels will not be permitted to walk on the field. Graduates should also expect to be standing for at least an hour and walking a short distance between the SECU Arena for line up and the Unitas Stadium for the ceremony.
THINGS TO BRING: Cap, Gown, & Tassel, Phone with screenshot of your GradPass, GradPass (if you choose to print it)

Commencement FAQs

What is Grad Pass?

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 after May 16 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.

I am a degree candidate who will need a disability accommodation during my ceremony. Who should I contact?

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 adarequest AT_TOWSON.

Can I attend two ceremonies if I complete double majors?

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.

Why can't my name be added to the Commencement program if I submit my graduation application after the deadline?

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.

How will I receive my diploma?

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.