When and where is the Shenandoah University 2025 Commencement Ceremony?
The Shenandoah University Commencement Ceremony is Saturday, May 24, 2025, at 10 a.m. inside the James R. Wilkins, Jr. Athletics & Events Center. The doors will open at 8 a.m.
Other Ceremonies: There are some end-of-year Hooding/Pinning/Award Ceremonies scheduled before the University Commencement. A schedule and more information for those events, including our traditional baccalaureate service, can be found on our website at www.su.edu/commencement/schedule. Contact the appropriate school or program directly for more details.
Graduation vs. Commencement – What’s the difference?
Have you seen graduation and commencement used in different places and wondered if there is a difference? There is!
The simple way to think of it is that graduation is the process of conferring you have met the requirements to earn your degree and Commencement is the celebration of those that have completed those requirements. Graduation is acknowledging that you have completed the work and Commencement is the party!
Those who apply for Graduation by the March 1 deadline will receive information sometime during the middle of March with information on RSVPing to the Commencement Ceremony (that is a separate process from applying for Graduation and is separate from the individual school hooding/pinning ceremonies) and how to go about claiming tickets for your guests. Due to capacity limitations, the number of tickets available to each graduating student varies each year depending on the number of graduating students who indicate they are interested in attending Commencement. That number will be communicated as soon as we know how many students plan to attend Commencement.
How do I order my regalia?
The Herff Jones Online Store is now closed. Please visit the Campus Bookstore if you need to purchase regalia.
- Regalia:
- Bachelor Package: Navy Gown, Cap, & Tassel with year date – $54.00
- Master Package: Black Gown, Cap, Degree Tassel with year date, and Hood – $103.00
- Doctor Package (Pharm-D, DPT, DNP, DMA): Red Gown, Dark Navy panels with Gold Seals, Dark Navy 8 sided Tam, Tassel Old Gold with year date, & Hood – $180.00
- Doctor Package (EdS): Red Gown, Dark Navy panels with Gold Seals, Black Cap, Tassel Old Gold with year date, & Hood – $144.00
- Questions? Contact the SU Bookstore at 540-665-4523
Veterans Cords
The university will honor veteran and active duty faculty, staff, and students by presenting them with a special red, white, and blue honor cord to be worn during the university’s Commencement ceremony. Please email a copy of your active duty orders or DD-214 to the Registrar’s Office at gibill@su.edu no later than April 15. Cords can be picked up from the graduate check-in table at the Commencement lineup. Contact the Registrar’s Office at gibill@su.edu with questions.
Undergraduate Honor Cords
Honor cords will be given out at the graduate lineup on the day of Commencement
Tickets are FREE, we do not sell guest tickets.
The Wilkins Athletics and Events Center has limited seating capacity.
Tickets have a unique QR code and only ONE person will be admitted per QR code.
Shenandoah University uses MarchingOrder as our RSVP/ticketing system for our university-wide commencement ceremony. Look for the link to set up your username and password for this system at the bottom of the email “Register (RSVP) for the 2024 Commencement Ceremony and Ticket Access” email sent to the email address you used to apply for graduation. You must set up an account to RSVP and claim your guest tickets. Remember to save your login information so you can access the system later should you need to. The deadline to register/RSVP is 11:59:59pm on Friday, May 2, 2025. You can access your tickets through the day of the ceremony.
Each graduate will be allotted 4 tickets for their guests (graduates do not need a ticket). If there are any tickets left after the system closes on May 2nd an alert will go out to our grads via text and email by May 4th. Any remaining tickets are first come first served.
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- Children 24 months and under do not need a ticket, however, the child must sit on an adult’s lap during the ceremony without obstructing the view of other guests. All children over 24 months are required to have a ticket due to fire code capacity.
- What if I need additional tickets?
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- If any extra/unclaimed tickets are available after May 3rd, an email will be sent to graduates who have submitted their RSVP in the system. You can log back into the system and claim any extras then. *Save your MarchingOrder ID and password.*
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- How do I give tickets to my guests?
- Print: Tickets can be printed and given to your guests to bring with them or
- Email: Tickets can also be emailed directly to each guest. Your guest can print their ticket or access them on their smartphone to be scanned upon entry.
- Each ticket has a unique QR code that can only be scanned once. There is no re-entry into the event.
- What if some of my guests require ADA accommodations?
- There is a section on the RSVP form where you can provide details about ADA needs for your guests. ADA accommodations must be provided to us before the event to ensure we have appropriate space set aside.
- Details for ADA parking can be found on our website under the guest tab.
Is there a commencement rehearsal?
Yes, and it is strongly recommended you attend – except for students who have finals during this time frame. Commencement rehearsal will be held on Thursday, May 22, from 4:30 – 5 p.m. at the James R. Wilkins, Jr. Athletics & Events Center.
Immediately following the walkthrough is GRAD BASH!
(about 5 p.m.)
On the lawn of the Wilkins Athletics & Events Center
Register to be entered to win a diploma frame!
Questions? Contact the Office of Alumni & Constituent Relations, alums@su.edu.
updated 05/07/2025