Commencement

Doctoral Hooding Ceremony and Reception

The doctoral hooding ceremony is a special recognition ceremony for candidates in the following disciplines: Doctor of Education, Doctor of Nursing Practice, Doctor of Occupational Therapy, Doctor of Physical Therapy and Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy. A Faculty member places the doctoral hood over the head of the graduate, signifying his or her success in completing the graduate program.  The ceremony is similar to a graduation in that faculty and students are dressed in academic attire.  The Hooding Ceremony is in addition to and does not replace the Commencement Ceremony at the Tinley Park Convention Center.

• Thursday, May 16, 2019, 6:30 pm
• Center for Performing Arts
• Graduates meet at 5 pm in the Green Room of the CPA
• Graduates may take portraits with friends and faculty through LifeTouch
• Reception immediately following the ceremony in the Hall of Governors
• NO TICKET REQUIRED

For the 2019 Commencement ceremony, eligible participants are:

• 2018 December graduates
• 2019 Spring candidates for graduation (who applied by Friday, February 8, 2019)
• 2019 Summer candidates for graduation (who applied by Friday, February 8, 2019)

Participation in Commencement is voluntary.

• Tickets for the Commencement Ceremony will be available online at www.tixGSU.com beginning Monday, April 22, 2019 and closing on Friday, May 3, 2019.

• Cap and Gown Pickup is scheduled for Tuesday, April 30, noon - 5 pm and Wednesday, May 1, 2-7pm.

• Note: Doctoral students will receive your cap and gown through their respective chair in either the College of Education or College of Health and Human Services.

Regalia WILL NOT be distributed on Commencement Day.

If you are not able to attend cap and gown pick-up, you may send someone to pick-up your commencement items.

That person will need:

• A signed letter from you authorizing that person to pick-up your commencement items
• A copy of your photo ID
• To present their photo ID when checking in 

REGALIA INFORMATION:  CAP AND GOWN ONLINE ORDERING AND PICK-UP

Online regalia ordering for cap, gown, and hood (if applicable) will be open Tuesday, February 19, 2019 at 8:30 am and will close Wednesday, March 20, 2019 at 11:59 pm CST.  Please visit: www.jostens.com. Type in school name:  Governors State University; click Graduation Caps & Gown; click Student 2019 - then select gown package for the specific degree you'll be receiving.

Students who order their regalia online may pick them up on one of these dates:

• Tuesday, April 30, 2019  noon - 5pm AND Wednesday, May 1, 2019, 2 pm - 7:00 pm
•  Location: Engbretson Hall

 Note: Doctoral students will receive their regalia through their respective chair from the College of Education or College of Health and Human Services after May 2, 2019.

Frequently Asked Questions - FAQs

• What is the difference between graduation and commencement?
  Graduation is a process where you complete an application in order to earn your degree. A $125 non-refundable processing fee will be placed on your account. A graduation application is required for each degree you earn at GSU.
• 
  Commencement is a formal ceremony and participation is voluntary. Participating in the ceremony does not mean your degree has been earned. 
    
•  I walked across the stage, doesn't this mean I earned my degree?
  No. Only December graduates from the previous year will have earned degrees by commencement. Since spring and summer graduation applicants are eligible to participate in the ceremony, their degrees will not be posted until after ceremony has taken place. 
    
• Can I use my financial aid to cover the $125 fee?
  Consult with the financial aid office.  
    
• What does the graduation fee cover?
  The graduation fee covers the time and paperwork it takes to post your degree. The graduation fee also covers any items related to the commencement ceremony (i.e. student regalia, diploma covers, etc.).
    
• When will my diploma be mailed?
  Diplomas are usually mailed out six to eight weeks after final grades have been submitted.  
    
• I missed the deadline to turn in a graduation application, who do I contact?
  Consult with your academic advisor.  

• When does Commencement begin?
  Ceremonies begin at 10 am for the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Business and at 4:30 pm for the College of Education and the College of Health and Human Services. 
    
• How will I know which ceremony I will attend?
  Participants are grouped by Colleges.  KNOW YOUR COLLEGE.  College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), College of Business (CB), College of Education (CE) and College of Health and Human Services (CHHS).
    
• How many tickets will I receive?
  Graduates will receive six general admission guest tickets per ceremony for family and guests. Tickets will be available online at www.tixGSU.com beginning Monday, April 22, 2019 and closing on Friday, May 3, 2019. If additional tickets are available, this will be announced, Tuesday, May 7, 2019 and made available for redemption for a limited time.
    
• Does my child need a ticket?
  Children age two or older will require tickets.
    
• How long is the ceremony?
  The Commencement ceremony lasts approximately two and a half hours.
    

Where do I pick-up my regalia?
Eligible participants may pick-up their regalia in Engbretson Hall on Regalia Pick-Up Days, Tuesday, April 30, 2019 from noon - 5 pm or Wednesday, May 1, 2019 from 2 pm - 7 pm.

• If you are a doctoral student, you will receive your cap and gown through your respective chair from the College of Education and College of Health and Human Services.  
• REGALIA WILL NOT BE DISTRIBUTED ON COMMENCEMENT DAY
• How early should I arrive at commencement?
  Participants should arrive 90 minutes before the ceremony. Guests should arrive an hour before the ceremony. 

2019 Commencement Faculty Checklist

Faculty Participation

Thank you for your commitment to assist us with this year’s Commencement – one of the most important and exciting events in the lives of our students! You will find this to be very rewarding, as families and friends are excited about their loved ones graduating. They will need all of our assistance. Anything we can do to make it a pleasant day for them will leave good impressions when they return home and share with others who may attend our university in the future.

Scheduled rehearsals for the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony and Commencement are mandatory for the Marshal Coordination Team, Grand Marshal, Marshals, Faculty Excellence Awardees and Name Announcers to ensure that all participants are knowledgeable in their roles and to ensure that each aspect of Commencement runs smoothly.

Please complete the Faculty Participation Survey indicating your level of participation by April 12, 2019. You may access the survey here https://www.research.net/r/commencement2019-Faculty.

Rental and Purchase Information

If you would like to rent faculty regalia, please visit Jostens’ website here www.jostens.com. Online ordering will open February 19, 2019 at 8:30 am and will close March 20, 2019 at 11:59 pm CST. All rental orders MUST be placed by March 20. Rental of regalia with Jostens is at the employee’s expense. Please make payments directly with Jostens.

If you’d like to purchase a Fine Quality Academic Regalia package, visit Jostens' website here www.jostens.com and select the “Fine Quality Regalia” link. All custom orders MUST be placed by Friday, March 22, 2019. Any custom order with Jostens is at the employee’s expense. Please make payments directly with Jostens.

Faculty Regalia Measuring will be available at Salute to Grads, Wednesday, March 6, 2019 from 11:00 am until 7 pm in the Hall of Governors.

Group orders will not be accepted. Only one complete package may be purchased per order.

If you have questions or wish additional information, please contact
Karen Caesar at 708.534-6360 or kcaesar-smith@govst.edu

Let the Celebration Continue! 

Volunteers Are Needed to Assist at Commencement! 

WE NEED YOU!!!

GSU staff and faculty are invited and encouraged to participate in our 2019 commencement ceremony. 

Thank you for your commitment to assist us with this year’s Commencement – one of the most important and exciting events in the lives of our students! You will find this to be very rewarding, as families and friends are excited about their loved ones graduating. They will need all of our assistance. Anything we can do to make it a pleasant day for them will leave good impressions when they return home and share with others who may attend our university in the future.

Please take a moment to complete the 2019 Commencement Volunteer Survey by Friday, April 19, 2019.  You may access the survey by clicking this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Preview/?sm=du_2BVdbX8nxWt4wqqsVQwIrISWrhGslCJxCE8fEsF_2BmuYpKD0z45NRO4H24kvP7Xf

All commencement Volunteers must attend a mandatory orientation on Friday, May 10, 2019 at 10 a.m. in Engbretson Hall.

If you have questions or wish additional information, please contact Karen Caesar at kcaesar-smith@govst.edu

Available March 4, 2019

The Invitation letter will be sent out via email to eligible participants. Please check your GSU email account.

If you have difficulty with your GSU email, please contact the Helpdesk at 708.534.4357 (HELP).