Important Spring 2024 Commencement Details for the Class of 2024 Graduates

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, faculty, administration, and staff of Notre Dame College, we are pleased and honored to extend congratulations to you upon your upcoming graduation as a member of the 100th graduating class of Notre Dame College.

Below will be information specific to our Graduates for what they need to know to finish their last semester at Notre Dame College and the Ceremony. This page of information is for Graduates who has degree conferrals in Spring 2024 or had degree conferrals in Summer 2023 and Fall 2023. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Office of Academic Affairs.

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION:

Undergraduate and Graduate students who have fulfilled all academic requirements for graduation and have been cleared by the Office of the Registrar are invited to participate in Notre Dame College’s Commencement ceremonies. The graduation requirements are listed in the academic catalog and check your degree progress on MyNDC to be sure that you have fulfilled these requirements for graduation.

DIPLOMAS:

Students who have fulfilled all of their academic requirements for graduation will receive their diploma in the mail 4-6 weeks after Commencement. The college confers degrees at the end of each semester: Spring, Summer, and Fall.

GRADUATION HONORS:

To be eligible to graduate with Latin honors, an undergraduate student must have all the following:

1. Attained a grade point average of at least 3.50 for graduation cum laude, a grade point average of at least 3.75 for graduation magna cum laude, and a grade point average of 3.90 for graduation summa cum laude;

2. Completed all degree and major requirements for your catalog including requirements to earn Latin honors; and

3. All upper biennium credits as required in your catalog.

FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS:

Office of Student Accounts and Financial Aid

(216) 373-5213

Office Hours: Monday – Friday 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Please check with Student Accounts Receivable and the Library to ensure that all financial obligations are cleared. A non-refundable graduation fee of $200 (which covers the cost of degree audits and evaluations, the diploma, diploma cover, and shipping supplies and expenses and the commencement ceremony) will be charged to your account, but students will not be billed until April

2024. Payment of the fee and any balance is required to receive your diploma and order official transcripts. Once a student has paid off their balance, they can request their diploma and/or official transcripts.

Exit counseling for federal Direct loan (subsidized and unsubsidized Direct loans) can be completed at www.studentloans.gov. Exit counseling for Perkins loan should be completed at https://www.uaservice.com/Borrower-Student/Complete_Exit_Interview.html. TEACH exit counseling should be completed at www.nslds.ed.gov. The exit loan counseling process must be completed by April 30, 2024.

COMMENCEMENT TICKETS:

Graduates will receive up to six tickets maximum for guests (no exceptions). Due to limited seating, no requests for additional tickets will be taken. Please remember that guests wishing to attend Commencement will need a ticket to be admitted. Those who are unable to attend will have the opportunity to view the ceremony via a live feed from the Notre Dame College website (www.NotreDameCollege.edu/graduation).

How to claim and obtain tickets will be sent to your NDC email address a few weeks before the ceremony. You must RSVP to Tabitha Meeks to receive ticket information by April 5, 2024.

ACADEMIC REGALIA:

IMPORTANT REMINDER – Cap and Gown costs were NOT included in the graduation fee.

1. Bachelor’s and Master’s degree candidates participating in commencement and/or baccalaureate ceremonies are required to wear academic regalia.

2. Required academic regalia unit includes:

· Cap – black

· Gown – black

· Tassel – black; no year-date drop will be hanging on the tassel (NDC follows higher ed protocol which is no year-date drop from tassel)

· Academic hood – The hood is worn draped around your shoulders with the largest portion of the hood hanging down your back (inside the hood are NDC colors, outside trim of hood is degree color)

3. Bachelor’s and Master’s degree candidates must order caps and gowns directly from Jostens for home delivery.

· ORDER DEADLINE is April 11, 2024 (no exceptions)

4. PRICING: Bachelor Unit = $89.90 (cap, gown, tassel, academic hood plus tax, & shipping) Candidates will be shipped cap, gown, and tassel. Candidates will receive their academic hood at the commencement ceremony.

5. PRICING: Master Unit = $99.16 (cap, gown, tassel, academic hood plus tax, & shipping) Candidates will be shipped cap, gown, and tassel. Candidates will receive their academic hood at the commencement ceremony. 6. Questions? Contact Katie McMahon.

ATTIRE:

Academic Attire includes the academic gown, hood, mortarboard (cap) and dress shoes.

Gowns should be clean and pressed by the morning of the Baccalaureate ceremony. Since the graduation gowns are made of polyester, ironing directly on it can melt the fabric. Turn the gown inside out and place a white towel over the fabric and iron over the towel on the warm setting. Try not to hold the iron in one spot for too long to prevent scorching.

BACCALAUREATE SERVICE:

This beautiful celebration for undergraduates which will take place on Friday, May 3 at 4:00 p.m. in the Regina Auditorium is a fitting culmination to your career at Notre Dame College. Take this opportunity to give thanks for all you have received and accomplished. All graduates and family members, regardless of religious affiliation, are welcome and encouraged to attend. No tickets are required, and all are welcome.

SENIOR WEEK:

There will be many events taking place for seniors leading up to Commencement. Student Affairs staff, along with you a few of your peers, are currently planning a fun-filled series of events! Look out for an email coming in early April that will outline the schedule of events.

Please contact Katie Mazanetz, Dean of Students, with any questions regarding Senior Week.

STUDENT MAILBOXES:

You must return your student mailbox key at the end of the semester. Please return to Office Services/Mailroom on the Administration Building Ground Floor immediately after your last final.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

ALL CEREMONIES

*Students must RSVP to Tabitha Meeks to receive ticket information. Ticket information will be sent a few weeks before the ceremony.

**Please note that there will be various social events scheduled for graduating seniors. You will be notified of these events within the coming weeks. Please contact Katie Mazanetz, Assistant Dean of Students or Chris Gill, Dean of Students, with any questions regarding Senior Week.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER COMMENCEMENT:

· All degree conferrals for graduates are posted no later than 2 weeks after graduation. An email will be sent out to all graduates from the Office of the Registrar.

· Graduates must be financially cleared by Student Accounts to receive their diploma (no balance on your student account). Otherwise diplomas are retained in the Office of the Registrar.

· Watch for emails from the Office of the Registrar after final grades. · To order an official transcript, access https://www.notredamecollege.edu/resources-and-services/transcript-request/ to create an account with the Clearinghouse and order it.