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Graduation
Degrees in the Graduate School are conferred three times a year, in August, January and May. For the 2012–2013 academic year, the official graduation dates are:
- August 8, 2012
- January 6, 2013
- May 18, 2013
At the beginning of the semester in which a student is planning to graduate, he or she must register and complete the ND Roll Call process. Students who are planning to submit a research thesis or dissertation should familiarize themselves with the deadlines and submission requirements for their target graduation date. For program-specific requirements, consult your department or the Graduate Bulletin of Information.
Commencement Ceremonies
There is no ceremony for the August and January graduations; students from all three graduations are, however, invited to participate in the Commencement celebrations the following May. This year, students who graduated in August 2012 and January 2013, or who are eligible to graduate in May 2013 may participate in the May 2013 ceremonies.
The Graduate School at the University of Notre Dame hosts a separate ceremony specifically for doctoral and master’s students in programs under the Graduate School purview. Students are invited to participate in both the Graduate School Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, and the University ceremony on Sunday, but the hooding of Ph.D. recipients and the conferral of doctoral and master’s graduate degrees will take place during the Graduate School program.
Separate ceremonies are held for graduate students in architecture, business, law, and the ESTEEM program. Please consult your department for additional information.
Christine M. Maziar, acting dean of the Graduate School, and vice president and senior associate provost, will preside over the ceremony. Fr. John Jenkins, president of the University, the academic officers and the college deans will be in attendance.
All students, staff, faculty and their guests are invited to attend the Saturday ceremony.
Venue
The Graduate School Commencement Ceremony will be held in the Compton Family Ice Arena on the south edge of campus. Immediately following the ceremony, graduates and their guests are invited to enjoy an indoor reception on the upper level of the Compton center.
RSVP Required
Students eligible to participate in the Saturday ceremony must notify the Graduate School whether they plan to attend. The RSVP form will open in March 2013.
Commencement Weekend:
Tentative Schedule of Events
| Saturday, May 18 | |
| 9:00 AM | Assemble for academic procession (Compton Family Ice Arena) |
| 9:40 AM | Academic procession. (Cap and gown attire required.) |
| 10:00 AM | Graduate School Commencement Ceremony |
| 11:30 AM | Reception immediately following the ceremony, upper level of the Compton arena. Light refreshments will be served. |
| Sunday, May 19 | |
| 8:15 AM | Assemble for academic procession into the University Ceremony. Graduate students will line up by the college from which they are receiving their degree (e.g., Arts and Letters, Engineering, Science). See the Registrar’s Commencement site for more information. |
| 9:00 AM | University Commencement Ceremony. See the Registrar’s Commencement site for more information. |
Important Links
- Graduate Commencement Protocol Booklet (available March 2013)
- RSVP (available March 2013)
- Campus Maps and Directions
- Guest Accommodations
Associated Dates and Deadlines
| 3/20 | Purchase/rent academic regalia at the Hammes ND Bookstore Graduation Fair (9AM–7PM). |
| 3/21 | After the Graduation Fair, students may order doctoral or master’s regalia online (URL available March 21) or contact Tricia Aschenbrenner at supplies@nd.edu or (574) 631-1399. Master’s gowns may be picked up two business days after the order has been placed. |
| 3/21 | Deadline for changes to the diploma and Commencement program. Changes requested after this date will incur an additional fee. |
| 3/29 | Deadline to purchase a doctoral gown. The URL will be available March 21; in the meantime, contact Tricia Aschenbrenner at supplies@nd.edu or (574) 631-1399 with questions. |
| 3/31 | Deadline for Commencement RSVP for the Graduate School Ceremony. |
| 4/26 | Deadline to rent a doctoral gown. Gowns ordered after this date will incur an additional fee. |
| 5/16 to 5/17 | Pick up doctoral gowns on the second floor of the Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore. |