Guest Information (FAQs)

Graduation is the official academic conferring/awarding of degrees earned. It is not the ceremony. Dominican confers degrees five times each year.  

Commencement is the ceremony celebrating the completion of degree programs. Dominican has ceremonies— December and May. Participation in a Commencement ceremony does not represent satisfactory completion of all degree requirements. Students do not receive an official diploma or have access to their official transcript signifying graduation, until all course requirements have been fulfilled..

The 2024 Fall Semester Commencement Ceremony will take place on December 14 in Lund Auditorium on the Dominican University main campus in River Forest. It is a single ceremony for both graduate and undergraduate students. The Spring Commencement Ceremonies—Undergraduate and Graduate—takes place in May.

All guests, including babies and children, will need a ticket for entry. Graduates do not need a ticket. The number of tickets issued per graduate will be determined by the number of ceremony participants.

Graduating students will be notified when tickets are available for them to pick up.

Seating is general admission (non-reserved) and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open one hour before the ceremony start time.

Ample free parking is available in DU's west parking lot and in the parking garage. See Campus Map for reference.

For anyone who prefers to listen to the ceremony in Spanish, headsets will be available for check out in the lobby.

The Commencement Ceremony will be streamed live in English and with Spanish subtitles. 

The livestream will be available on the Commencement Livestream page.

Yes, a photographer will be on site for the Commencement ceremony.  Graduates will have an opportunity to pre-register on the Grad Images website to save up to 20%. 

The link will be posted in the Countdown to Commencement course in Canvas. Since photographs will be available, family members and guests are encouraged to remain in their seats, relax and enjoy the ceremony.

All students participating in the Commencement ceremony must wear regalia. Ordering information is available to students in their Countdown to Commencement Canvas course. Undergraduate regalia includes cap, tassel, and gown. Graduate regalia includes cap, tassel, gown and hood. 

Attire should be business appropriate (i.e., no jeans, flip-flops, shorts etc.). 

The regalia is the "keepsake" variety—graduates do not need to return regalia after the commencement ceremonies. The regalia is yours to keep.

Printed announcements can be ordered through Herff Jones. Ordering information is available to students in the Countdown to Commencement Canvas course.

Dominican University class rings or other jewelry can be purchased from from Herff Jones. Ordering information is available to students in the Countdown to Commencement Canvas course.

Yes, a limited number of bouquets and gift items will be available for purchase before the ceremonies.

Please bring your tickets and enthusiasm for your amazing student.

Items not allowed include: large signs, balloons, tripods or other bulky photography equipment, noisemakers, laser pointers, pets (working service animals welcome), and bags larger than a backpack. When in doubt, please leave it at home or in your car. Items cannot be held at the door.