Commencement

Fall 2024

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Schedule & Venues
Parking
December Grads Party
Students: Need to Know
Students: To-Do Before the Ceremony
FAQs

Fall 2024 Commencement Schedule

Friday, December 20, 2024

5:00 p.m. – Schreyer Medals Ceremony, HUB-Robeson Center – Heritage Hall

Sunday, December 22, 2024

9:30 a.m. – J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School – Masters and Doctoral Degree Ceremony, The Bryce Jordan Center

4:30 p.m. – College of Arts and Architecture – Baccalaureate and Associate Degree Ceremony, The Bryce Jordan Center

Parking for Commencement

Parking will be free for Commencement ceremonies. There are ample ADA spaces. If there are any questions, contact the Transportation Services Office at 814-865-1436 or parking@psu.edu

Bryce Jordan Center Commencement Parking Interactive Map

Penn State Commencement Website

Visit commencement.psu.edu

Visitor Bag Policy

Permitted Bags at Commencement Venues

Bags that are clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and do not exceed 12” x 6” x 12”.
One-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc bag or similar).
Small clutch bags, with or without a handle or strap, that do not exceed 4.5”x 6.5” x 1".

All media representatives with necessary bags and equipment must enter the front entrance to have each item inspected prior to entering the building.

For additional information related to bag policies, please see the FAQ section below.

Diverse group of graduating students wearing regalia.

graduates in regalia outside holding a blue and white A&A flag

close up of a red, white, and blue commencement honor cord

A blue color-cast image of the Penn State Nittany Lion statue with a mortarboard hat and tassel positioned between the ears, text header reads "You're Invited to the December Grad Party."

The Penn State Alumni Association Invites Fall Grads to Celebrate!

Join us to celebrate your graduation during our December Grad Party, where we will welcome you to the Penn State Alumni Association!

This event is free to attend and will include snacks and fun activities. Your longest relationship with Penn State starts now, and we can't wait to celebrate you!

December 10, 2024 | 3–5 pm | Hintz Family Alumni Center

RSVP Now

What you need to know...

Student Information

IMPORTANT: Attending Commencement does not guarantee graduation.

The Commencement Ceremony is a symbolic way to celebrate the completion of your academic career at Penn State, however graduation is a separate records process which takes place after the commencement ceremony.

Student to-do items...

Before the ceremony

Apply for graduation

The university needs to know you intend to complete your degree/graduate, and attend commencement activities. So students are asked to apply for graduate at the very beginning of their final semester in Lionpath. If you plan to graduate, and have not applied, talk to your academic adviser as soon as possible – they can help check that you’re ready to complete your degree and help you submit your application.

Check your grades

Final grades are due after Commencement. Be aware of how the grades you will receive will affect your progress towards completing your degree. You cannot graduate with deferred or otherwise incomplete grades, so take the time to talk with your professors about a plan to resolve any issues before commencement.

Watch for commencement related information from both the University and the College

Toward the end of the semester in which you intend to graduate, keep an eye on your PSU email for commencement related correspondence. There will be a few tasks you need to complete to prepare for the ceremony before the end of the semester.

Order your cap and gown or verify the appropriate academic dress for military commissions

Academic dress (cap and gown) or the uniform of one of the U.S. Armed Forces is expected at commencement.

Students may order and purchase their caps and gowns from the Penn State Bookstore the website: Regalia | Penn State Official Bookstore. If you need assistance, please contact the Penn State Bookstore at 814-863-3589 or 863-2512

Bachelor’s regalia is approximately $57.00
Bachelor’s regalia with announcement is approximately $69.50

Visit the Academic Affairs Office (104 Borland) to complete your Senior Survey

What are your plans after graduation? Will you enter the job market, travel, continue your education…A&A wants to know! During finals week, stop in to 104 Borland and take a short online survey. While here, you can pick-up your name card as well as any academic honor cords for commencement, receive a small gift from the Penn State Alumni Association and enter your name in a drawing for a $50 gift card. Keep an eye on your Penn State email for more specific information about when the surveys will be available.

Students & Visitors...

Commencement FAQs

All University Park commencement locations utilize walk-through metal detectors at entrances and there are restrictions on the size and type of bag that may be carried into the venue for commencement.

Permitted Bags at Commencement Venues

Bags that are clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and do not exceed 12” x 6” x 12”.
One-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc bag or similar).
Small clutch bags, with or without a handle or strap, that do not exceed 4.5”x 6.5” x 1".

Each guest is permitted one bag. No backpacks allowed. All bags will be inspected and tagged. Guests will be asked to return non-approved or excess bags or other prohibited items to their vehicle prior to venue entry. There is no check-in location for prohibited bags or items. An exception will be made for medically necessary items that cannot fit into a clear bag, after proper inspection.

All media representatives with necessary bags and equipment will be checked prior to entry (at the walk-through metal detectors).

Penn State encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. Information about commencement is available in alternative media on request.

Parking: For an ADA access map of campus, visit the ADA Access Interactive Map. Parking in these lots is available upon a first-come, first-served basis. Please allow extra time for traffic and parking. A valid, state-issued ADA placard or license plate is required for ADA parking.

Seating: ADA seating will be available in each venue.

If you or your guests anticipate needing any type of accommodation not mentioned above or have questions about the physical access provided for Commencement, please contact the Office of Campus and Community Events at graduation@psu.edu. Accommodation arrangements should be made at least 2 weeks before commencement to allow sufficient time to effectively meet your access needs.

Candidates for the baccalaureate degrees should wear the tassel of the cap on the right front edge.

Important notes about appropriate dress:

Ornamentation representing honorary societies or nationalities is not approved attire for Penn State academic ceremonies.
Gowns should be worn closed.
Wearing the Schreyer Honors College medal is welcomed.
Due to the formality of this occasion and safety concerns regarding walking on the steps and stage, please wear appropriate footwear; flip flops, clogs or other loose-fitting shoes are not recommended.

Commencement and Graduation are not mutually exclusive. Commencement is the symbolic ceremonial conclusion of your academic career as an Undergrad at Penn State. Graduation is an academic records process which takes place after commencement. A student can be graduated (degree conferred, and diploma mailed) without attending commencement, and likewise, someone who attends commencement can potentially not graduate.

Ceremony is approximately 90 minutes in duration.

No tickets are required for guests of Arts & Architecture graduates. Seating is first come first served.
Check with respective Penn State venues for ADA accessible seating areas.

There is no limit to the number of guests a graduate can bring with them to the ceremony.

At this time, the dates for the senior survey have not been confirmed, however is you are engaged in student teaching, study abroad or otherwise unable to stop by in person to fill out your survey and receive your distinction cords and name card, please request yours via email to AAundergrad@psu.edu.

Students who have applied for graduation should expect to start seeing information from both the University and the College hit their Penn State email in late March / early April
If you have not applied to graduate, the College won’t know to contact you. If you intend to graduate in a given semester, please reach out to your academic adviser as early as possible in that semester so you can be added to the graduation list.

Penn State has done away with the practice of printing programs for its commencement events. However, there will be programs available online at commencement.psu.edu for each of the colleges after the ceremonies.

Students who are within 8 credits of completing their degree can apply for permission by the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Outreach to ‘walk’ in a commencement ceremony during a semester that differs from when they’ll complete their remaining credits.
If you’d like to walk in a commencement ceremony, reach out to your academic adviser as soon as possible. They can verify your remaining credits and help you apply.