Dear Class of 2025 graduates and families,

Commencement Weekend is just around the corner, and the excitement on campus is truly contagious! We are thrilled to celebrate this significant milestone with you, your family, and your friends as we recognize the incredible accomplishments of our graduating class.

To ensure you're prepared for Commencement, please take a moment to read through the important ceremony instructions and information below.

For the latest schedule of events, ceremony details, parking information, and much more, please go to the Commencement website.

CAP & GOWN – LAST CHANCE TO PURCHASE

Graduates are required to wear a black cap and gown over their regular attire to participate in the Commencement Ceremony. The last opportunity for students to purchase a cap and gown is May 8–9, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Jones Hall, Room 104. A limited selection of cap and gown packages (cap, gown, and tassel along with hoods for graduate students) will be available for purchase via credit card.

If you submitted a cap and gown order and haven't received it yet, please contact Oak Hall at customercare@oakhalli.com or 540.378.7001.

Honor cords and stoles will be distributed by individual departments and programs.

GRADUATE CEREMONY INSTRUCTIONS

SUNDAY, MAY 11, 2025
PROCESSIONAL TICKET PICKUP
1 p.m. | Karlen Quadrangle

Please arrive promptly at 1 p.m. to pick up your lineup ticket.

Please bring only what you can carry in your hands or pockets. You will not be allowed to bring bags, backpacks, or purses with you to the ceremony.
If you are receiving a graduate degree, you will be in the MAROON line. You can collect your MAROON lineup ticket at the table located near the north end (Collins Memorial Library) of Karlen Quad.
If you are receiving a bachelor's degree and the name of your major falls at the beginning of the alphabet, you will be in the MAROON line. You can collect your MAROON lineup ticket at the table located near the north end (Collins Memorial Library) of Karlen Quad.
If you are receiving a bachelor's degree and the name of your major falls in the middle or end of the alphabet, you will be in the WHITE line. You can collect your WHITE ticket at the table located near the south end of Karlen Quad.
Lineup order is alphabetically arranged by last name within each department.
For double majors, your line ticket will be with the department you informed the Registrar’s Office you intend to walk with. Any changes made this week, either through the Academic Deans’ Office or Registrar’s Office, will be written in and must be confirmed with a Faculty Marshal before 1:30 p.m.
After the lineup tickets are distributed, the names of students who didn't pick up their tickets will be crossed off the list. These names will not be read during the Commencement Ceremony. Be sure to pick up your ticket so we know you are here and read your name!
If you are not participating in this year's ceremony, please let us know by emailing commencement@pugetsound.edu.

PROCESSIONAL LINEUP
1:30 p.m. | Karlen Quadrangle

At 1:30 p.m., you will hear an announcement over a loudspeaker that it is time to line up. There will be stakes along the sidewalks that correspond to the numbers on the lineup tickets. At that time, please go to your lineup spot on the sidewalk.
Those with MAROON tickets will form a line starting from the southwest corner of Jones Hall northward along the walkway to Collins Memorial Library.
Those with WHITE tickets will form a line starting from the southwest corner of Jones Hall westward along the walkway to Thompson Hall.
Not all graduates will be present, so make sure you are standing behind the next lowest lineup number and in front of the next highest lineup number.

PROCESSIONAL
1:50 p.m. | Karlen Quadrangle to Baker Stadium

On your last student walk across campus, Faculty Marshals will bring the MAROON and WHITE lines together to walk across campus along Commencement Walk in a double line.
Leading the lines will be two graduating students serving as Standard-Bearers carrying the Commencement Banner and the Class Banner.
Along the way, you'll process past an honor guard of faculty in front of Todd and Phibbs Halls. Once we start marching to the stadium, please keep the line moving.

COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY ENTRANCE
2 p.m. | Baker Stadium

The ceremony begins with the playing of Pomp and Circumstance and the seating of the graduates.
MAROON Line: Graduates will sit on the west side of the field.
WHITE Line: Graduates will sit on the east side of the field.
The Faculty Marshals will direct you to your seat, so keep an eye out for them. You'll remain standing until the completion of the Invocation and then be asked to sit.
It is important that you stay for the entire ceremony to honor your fellow graduates!

AWARDING OF DEGREES

Graduate Degrees

After the Commencement Address, graduate degrees will be awarded.
Provost Kerkhoff will ask you to stand, President Crawford will confer the degree, and then you will come forward row by row to be hooded and receive your diploma cover.
As you approach the stage using the west platform ramp, graduate students should drape their folded hood over their left arm.
At the platform, please follow the Faculty Marshal's directions.
Once on stage, the first Faculty Hooder will take the hood from your arm, arrange it accordingly, and hand it to the second Faculty Hooder as you proceed to the X mark on the stage. Turn to face the audience. Once in position, the Faculty Hooder will place your hood over your head onto your shoulders. You may need to squat slightly for the Faculty Hooder to get your hood over your head.
After you receive your hood, walk to the President to receive your diploma cover, then exit the stage using the east platform ramp.
Once on the field, proceed down the center aisle back to your seat.

Bachelor's Degrees

Bachelor’s degrees will be awarded following the graduate degrees.
Provost Kerkhoff will ask you to stand, President Crawford will confer the degree, and then you will come forward row by row.
The first row of undergraduates will move to the west platform ramp as instructed by the Faculty Marshals, and other rows will remain seated until instructed by the Faculty Marshals to go to the platform.
At the platform, please follow the Faculty Marshal's directions.
When Provost Kerkhoff reads your name, walk to the president to receive your diploma cover, then exit the stage using the east platform ramp.
Once on the field, proceed down the center aisle back to your seat.

Your official diploma will be mailed to you after spring grades are received and completion of degree requirements is verified.

RECESSIONAL

After the Alma Mater is sung at the end of the ceremony, Faculty Marshals will lead the platform party, then the faculty, and then the graduates out of the stadium.
Please remain standing at your seat until the platform party and faculty have exited. Graduates will exit starting from the first row.
Meet your family and friends at the Puget Sound Commencement Reception on the Event Lawn immediately following the ceremony.

RECYCLE YOUR REGALIA

You may keep your regalia as a souvenir of this momentous occasion. Alternatively, you can donate your cap, gown, and hoods for future students to use by placing them in one of the regalia donation boxes following the ceremony. Your donation supports the university's cap and gown loaner program and sustainability efforts.

IMPORTANT CEREMONY INFORMATION

Commencement is a powerful celebration in your life and the legacy of Puget Sound. To preserve the dignity and integrity of this special ceremony, you'll be required to wear the regalia over your regular attire. Additionally, Commencement is a substance-free ceremony, so do not bring alcohol or other substances to the campus with you or show up under their influence.

Please be aware that any disruptions during the ceremony will result in your immediate removal. We want everyone to enjoy this momentous occasion.

If you have questions, please contact the Academic Deans’ Office at academicdeans@pugetsound.edu or the Office of Events at commencement@pugetsound.edu.

For more information on Commencement Weekend, go to the Commencement website.

Sincerely,

Office of Events

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