May 2024 Commencement FAQs

This ceremony is a long-standing NDC tradition held the day before graduation. This is a service of celebration and thanksgiving for God’s goodness in your college experience. The service will include music, a blessing on each graduate, and an inspirational message from our Mission Award recipient. People from all faith traditions are invited to attend and everyone will be able to participate in all aspects of the service.

All 2024 graduates and their families are invited, and no tickets are required. This is a prayer service that is open to people of all faiths, and everyone will be able to participate in every aspect of the service

Graduates should wear their graduation gown and cap. Students will receiving their hood during the service. This is a formal ceremony, so you should wear business attire that you would wear to a church service.

You can expect the ceremony to last approximately an hour.

Though the time varies depending on the length of students in each ceremony, it is safe to anticipate the ceremony will last an hour and could go up to an hour and a half.

Group A: Saturday, May 4 at 10:00 am: Business Administration Division (both undergraduates and graduates) and Science & Mathematics Division. Degree conferral dates of Spring 2024.

Group B: Saturday, May 4 at 2:00 pm: Arts & Humanities Divisions, Nursing Division, and Professional Education Division (both undergraduates and graduates). Degree conferral dates of Spring 2024.

Graduates are required to be in the Regina 1st Floor Hallway, outside of Regina 127/128, at the latest 45 minutes before their assigned ceremony begins. Students are seated alphabetically by degree (M.A., M.B.A., M.Ed., M.S.N., B.A., B.S., B.S.N.). Graduates should be in their graduation regalia.

Graduates will start in the Regina 1st Floor Hallway and then process to the Regina Auditorium After the ceremony is complete, they will then process to the Front Lawn.

We expect all our graduates to participate in the commencement ceremony. You must request an exception in writing to the Office of Academic Affairs by Friday, April 5, if you are unable to attend.

Academic Attire includes the academic gown, hood, mortarboard (cap), and black shoes (business daytime wear).

Gowns should be clean and pressed by the day before Commencement. Since the graduation gowns are made of polyester, ironing directly on them 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.

Hairstyle must be such that the cap can be worn according to academic regulations — tassel on the front right side for undergraduates.

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.

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, have the opportunity to view the ceremony via a live feed from the Notre Dame College website (www.NotreDameCollege.edu/graduation).

Graduates will receive more information about how to obtain the six tickets in their NDC email addresses. NDC is finalizing this information for students and information is forthcoming.

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, have the opportunity to view the ceremony via a live feed from the Notre Dame College website (www.NotreDameCollege.edu/graduation).

Yes. Graduates and parents can order announcements through Jostens (http://www.jostens.com/apps/store/customer/1160743/Notre-Dame-College/).

It will not be possible to permit picture taking or videotaping of graduates in the area of the stage. NDC will record the ceremony and the video will be posted on our website after the events.

Seating for family and friends with tickets will be available in the Regina Auditorium. The seating will be in sets of four with a seat between the next set. Seating for guests who have tickets is on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you or your guests require accommodations due to disability, health, or mobility issue, contact Academic Affairs (tjmeeks@ndc.edu) no later than Monday, April 22. Graduates are asked to be in the Performing Arts Center no later than 45 minutes before their assigned ceremony starts.

There will be parking available throughout campus. Campus Police will be available to direct your families. Once the campus parking lots are full, there will be overflow parking available at Greenview Elementary School down the street.

Handicapped parking spaces will be available in the Regina parking lot.

Notre Dame College provides directions, maps, dining information, and lodging information under Directions and Maps on the website (https://www.notredamecollege.edu/about/experience-the-college/directions-and-maps/).

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. Diplomas are printed by an outside vendor and will be available for pick/delivery by the end of June. 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 in regard to graduation status after final grades and diploma pickup/mailing information. 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.

Please reach out to the Office of Academic Affairs at academicaffairs@ndc.edu.