Undergraduate Ceremony Instructions

Thank you for submitting your attendance to the Fall 2024 Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony taking place on Saturday, December 21st, at 1:30 p.m. in Hilton Coliseum. We look forward to celebrating with you and your guests! If your plans have changed and you no longer plan to attend, we ask that you email us at graduation@iastate.edu, so our attendance numbers stay accurate.

 

Date, Time, and Location:

  • Saturday, December 21, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. in Hilton Coliseum
  • Doors will open for guests at 11:30 a.m.
  • It is anticipated that the ceremony will last around two hours.

 

Parking:

  • Parking is available in the lots around Hilton Coliseum.
  • Additional parking has been identified around Jack Trice Stadium, Maple Willow Larch, and Lied Recreation Center.
  • We ask students and their guests to arrive early enough to find parking and walk to the check-in location (for graduating students) or guest seating in Hilton Coliseum. We encourage carpooling if possible.
  • Handicap parking is available in lot C2.
  • If you or your guests park in the Maple Willow Larch parking lot or at Lied Recreation Center, please cross at the light and follow all traffic laws.
  • A parking map is available online here: Parking Maps for Hilton Coliseum and Jack Trice Stadium | Graduation & Commencement | Iowa State University

 

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 12:00 p.m., but plan to arrive by no later than 12:30 p.m.
  • Your primary college will determine your assigned check-in location:
    • College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
      • Hilton Coliseum, Southwest Corner, Top-Level
    • Ivy College of Business
      • Hilton Coliseum, Northwest Corner, Top-Level
    • College of Design
      • Hilton Coliseum, Northeast Corner, Top-Level
    • College of Engineering
      • Scheman Building, 200-Level (Top Floor), North Lobby (Registration Desk)
    • College of Health and Human Sciences
      • Hilton Coliseum, West End Tunnel, Ground-Level
    • College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
      • Scheman Building, 200-Level (Top Floor), Southwest Corner (outside Room 250)

 

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

  • Graduates are required to wear a bachelor's gown, a black four-sided cap, and the appropriate color tassel (tassel should be worn on the right side). Attire can be purchased through the Iowa State University Bookstore, located in the Memorial Union, and through their website: https://www.isubookstore.com/cap-gown-tassel/bachelor
  • 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.
  • Leave purses, coats, and other valuables with family or friends. There will be no secure place to leave them during the ceremony.
  • Graduates are not allowed to enter Hilton Coliseum with anything that would obstruct others’ enjoyment of the celebration.
  • Celebratory caps and adornments are welcomed and should be respectful.
  • We are pleased to share that the First Scholars Office is continuing to collect and offer free graduation caps and gowns to students graduating in December 2024 who are in need. After ensuring that first-generation and income-eligible students have received their free graduation caps and gowns, additional supplies may be available. The First Scholars Office recognizes the importance of graduation and the commitment it takes to reach this milestone. They want to ensure that nothing stands in the way of your celebration with loved ones and peers.
    • Caps and gowns will be available for pickup from November 18th to 22nd during the following times at 3250 Memorial Union (3rd floor of the east wing) for students in need, on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last.
      • Monday (11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.)
      • Tuesday (9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. AND 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.)
      • Wednesday (11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.)
      • Thursday (11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.)
      • Friday (9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.)
  • As you prepare for your next adventure, we invite you to leave behind a legacy that will benefit future Cyclones by donating your cap and gown. In partnership with Enrollment Services, the First Scholars Office is collecting graduation caps and gowns to donate to future graduating students who face financial barriers that prevent them from purchasing their own.
    • DONATION OPTIONS:
      • Collection Bins: Staff and collection bins will be at the north, south, and west entrances Hilton Coliseum immediately following commencement
      • Mail-in: If you need to hang on to your regalia for a while longer (for pictures or other occasions), you can pick up a postage-paid envelope at the above-indicated Hilton locations and mail it in at a later date.
    • For inquiries, email us at firstscholars@iastate.edu.

 

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 at mbecker@iastate.edu by December 17th.
  • 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.
  • Guests needing a wheelchair and/or scooter will need to supply their own or work with outside vendors to secure a wheelchair and/or scooter. Hilton Coliseum does not have any to rent or loan.
  • 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 before 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 Covers:

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