The University’s goal is to provide a safe and memorable experience for our graduates. The University is planning an in-person ceremony, we would be remise to not have a contingency plan. We are bound by, and will strictly adhere to, federal, state and local health and safety restrictions. The University may be required to reduce guest tickets for social distancing or pivot to a completely virtual ceremony. We will keep our graduates informed as best as possible as plans develop.
We are planning for in-person ceremonies in 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the ceremony dates and times?
Please go to this link to learn the exact date and time of your college’s/program’s ceremony: 2023 Schedule of Ceremonies | Commencement (westernu.edu)
How do my family and friends around the world see the ceremony?
Your guests can view the ceremony from https://commencement.westernu.edu. Guests do not need to log in.
What do we wear for the ceremony?
To participate in your ceremony, you are required to wear the regalia that you’ll receive from Jostens. Upon receipt of your graduation gown from Jostens, promptly remove it from the packaging and hang it up. To remove wrinkles, you may choose to press with a cool iron, use a steamer or hang gown in a steamy room. For the ceremony, please wear your graduation gown, any cords you receive, no more than one stole (if applicable), your tam/cap and tassel. Your tassel should be on the right-side of your face. Your hood should be carried over your left arm unless otherwise directed.
Watch for an e-mail about ordering your regalia.
Should we need to switch to a virtual ceremony, we recommend that guests in the room with you wear “dressy-casual” clothing as they may be on camera and recorded during the ceremony. Guests that wish to not be visible or recorded should remain out of frame during the ceremony.
How long is the ceremony?
Depending on the size of your graduating class, expect your commencement ceremony to last for 1.5 to 2.5 hours. We recommend that you don’t schedule anything for at least three (3) hours from the start of your scheduled ceremony time.
Please note that participation in your graduation ceremony is mandatory (unless you have been excused by your Dean/or Dean’s designee).
If you have any questions that we can answer, please email them to commencement@westernu.edu and we will use this space to answer questions and provide clarity.
Will my ceremony be recorded?
Yes, all commencement ceremonies will be live-streamed and recorded. Please be advised that in the event of a virtual ceremony, anyone in close proximity to the graduate, will be captured in any images related to the event, live streamed, and included in the final recording.
How soon will my diploma be ready?
This depends on your program. Diplomas cannot be released until the Registrar’s Office confirms that all graduation requirements have been met. Oath administration, for specific colleges, is usually done during the commencement ceremony and is a graduation requirement. CeDiplomas will be made available to all graduates who have completed all graduation requirements the day of their commencement ceremony (for more information on CeDiplomas, please visit the Registrar Office’s website). Diploma pick-up details are still in development at this time.
How will graduates receive their cap/tam, gown, and hood?
Your regalia (cap/tam, gown and hood) is ordered from Jostens and will be shipped directly to you. If you have any questions about your order you can contact Jostens at 1-800-488-2173. Once received, please try on your regalia. We also request that you take a photograph in full regalia and submit it with your graduate participation form.