Graduate Ceremony Instructions

Date, Time, and Location:

  • Friday, December 15th, 2023, at 7:00 P.M. in Hilton Coliseum
  • Doors will open for guests at 5:30 P.M.
  • It is anticipated that the ceremony will last no longer than two hours.           

Parking:

Tickets and Guests:

  • Tickets are not required.
  • Guest seating is unlimited – please invite everyone who wishes to celebrate your significant achievement!

Check-in/Line-up:

  • You may begin arriving for check-in at 5:30 p.m., but plan to arrive by no later than 6:15 p.m.
  • Your assigned check-in location will be in the Scheman Building (located to the north and west of Hilton)

    • Masters: 200 Level, Top Floor

      Doctoral: 100 Level, Middle Floor. Check-In and then find your place in Benton Auditorium

Academic Attire (e.g., Caps, Tassels, and Gowns):

Master's

  • Graduates are required to wear a master's gown, a master's hood, a black cap, and a black tassel (tassel should be worn on the left side). Attire can be purchased through the Iowa State University Bookstore, located in the Memorial Union, and through their website: https://www.isubookstore.com/graduation/cap-gown-tassel/master
  • Students are encouraged to wear their adornments (cords, medallions, etc.)
  • Graduates who are a member of the United States Armed Forces are welcome to wear uniforms.
  • Graduates who need to wear specific attire for religious or cultural purposes (e.g., hijab, etc.) are welcome to do so.

Doctoral

  • Doctoral graduates are required to wear: The official Iowa State University doctorate regalia (i.e., Doctoral gown, Doctoral hood, and Doctoral tam). The tassel should be worn on the left side.
  • Hoods:
    • The Office of the Registrar will provide each doctoral candidate with a doctoral hood to use during the ceremony.
      • If you use one of the doctoral hoods provided by the Office of the Registrar during the ceremony, you will need to return the hood to the Office of the Registrar staff on stage immediately after the ceremony. Failure to do so will result in a charge to your U-Bill of $180.00 for the replacement costs of the hood and a hold will be placed on your university record.
      • If you will be bringing your own doctoral hood or would like to borrow your hood after the ceremony, please contact Abbie Suntken in the Office of the Registrar via e-mail at asuntken@iastate.edu before 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 14th, 2023.
  • The deadline to rent doctoral regalia from the Iowa State Bookstore is NOVEMBER 12, 2023. THIS IS A FIRM DEADLINE. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Accommodations:

  • Graduates needing special assistance (e.g., wheelchair seating, sign language interpreter, captioning services, service animals, etc.) prior to, or during, the ceremony should contact Michelle Becker, mbecker@iastate.edu, by December 14th.
  • Special accommodation seating will be available on a first come, first served basis.
  • Handicap parking is available in lot C2.
  • Guests needing a handicap accessible entrance and/or elevator should utilize Hilton Coliseum’s west entrance, located under the catwalk between Scheman and Hilton.
  • A sign language interpreter will be available

Ceremony Process:

  • After check-in, graduates will proceed to the line-up area.
  • Please complete the photography portion of the card you were given at check-in prior to the start of the ceremony. 
  • During the ceremony, graduates will be led to the photography area and then led across the stage by a Faculty Marshal. Photographers will use a flash when taking photos. 
  • After crossing the stage, graduates will be led back to their original seats. 

Diploma Tubes:

  • The President and/or Provost will hand you a diploma tube on stage during the ceremony.