Order of Events

Nearly 3,000 students graduate from UND each year.

Commencement events are open to the public and no tickets are required.

Arrival

Outside doors to the commencement facilities open early. Doors to the guest seating area will be opened 90 minutes prior to the start of the spring ceremony and 60 minutes prior to the start of the summer and winter ceremonies.

Graduate Assembly Process

You do not need to sign up to participate. Just arrive 60 minutes prior to the ceremony. You will be given a card with your name and degree when you arrive. Just before you cross the stage, you will hand the card to the proctor, who will read your name as you cross the stage.

Upon arrival, follow this procedure:

Report to the assembly site.
1. Spring Commencement: Alerus Ballroom
2. Summer and Winter Commencement: Chester Fritz Auditorium Rehearsal Room (lower level)
You will receive a copy of the printed program and a name card. You must keep this name card and hand it in to the announcer to read your name as you cross the stage.
Go immediately to the signs marking your degree and remain there.
Student marshals and staff members will organize each column into alphabetical order within their degree. All candidates should be lined up and ready for the processional 15 minutes prior to the beginning of the ceremony.
Processional marshals will lead you from the assembly area at approximately 10 minutes prior to the beginning of commencement and into the arena/auditorium. You will be directed to assigned seating and will remain standing until the President asks you to be seated.

Order of Commencement

Processional
Welcome and introductions from the President
Singing of "America the Beautiful"
Greetings from the State Board of Higher Education
Conferring of honorary degrees (if awarded)
Speaker (if presenting)
Presentation of the Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor (if awarded)
Conferring of academic degrees
Alumni greetings
Singing of the "Alma Mater"
Recessional

The Ceremony

University commencement ceremonies are special events for all involved. If you choose to participate, graduates are expected to remain for the entire ceremony. Leaving the ceremony early will not be allowed.

The conferring of degrees takes place in three phases: doctoral degrees, specialist/master's degrees, and baccalaureate degrees.

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All doctoral candidates and graduate advisors should wear proper academic regalia.
Graduates candidates will wear a tam with the tassel worn on the left. Please bring your hood to the ceremony, but do not wear it. You will carry it over your arm in the procession.
A student marshal will guide you and your advisor to the stage for the conferral of your degree. Remember to bring your hood. You will hand your name card (given to you during assembly) to the announcer seated at the side of the stage.
When your name is announced, you and your advisor will cross the stage, shake the Dean's hand, and then proceed to a spot on the stage where you will hand your doctoral hood to your advisor and the Dean for hooding.
Once you are hooded and presented your diploma, the President will shake your hand and you will be guided to a location for a posed photo and then you can return to your original seat.
All graduates will remain in the arena/auditorium for the duration of the ceremony.

All master's degree and specialist diploma candidates will wear proper UND-specific academic regalia. The tassel is worn on the left. You will wear your master's hood to the ceremony.
During the assembly process, candidates for master's degrees and the specialist diploma line up in alphabetical order behind the signs for their respective degrees (such as Master of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Fine Arts, etc.), all of which are awarded through the School of Graduate Studies for the processional. You should follow the marshal assigned to the Graduate School for the processional.
You will be led to the stage in a single file line by a marshal for the conferring of degrees. You will hand your name card (given to you during assembly) to the announcer seated at the side of the stage. At the direction of the stage marshal, you will proceed across the stage to shake hands with the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and receive a diploma folder from the President. After shaking hands with the President, you will then exit the stage, be guided to a location for a posed photo and then you can return to your original seat. You should remain standing until all graduates from your row have returned to their original seats.
All graduates will remain in the arena/auditorium for the duration of the ceremony.

All bachelor's degree candidates will wear proper academic regalia. The tassel is worn on the right and moved to the left after you cross the stage.
During the assembly process, commencement marshals and/or UND staff members will organize you into separate columns by college, school, and by degree within that unit. Candidates receiving more than one degree must choose one college with which to march. To avoid confusion, remember that you march with the college or school that awards your degree. For example, students majoring in aviation management receive the Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration, not the Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences. You will be placed in alphabetical order within the degree as listed in the commencement program.
You will be led to the stage in single file line by a marshal for the conferring of degrees. You will hand your name card (given to you during assembly) to the announcer seated at the side of the stage. At the direction of the stage marshal, you will proceed across the stage to shake hands with the Dean of your college and receive a diploma folder from the President. You will then exit the stage, be guided to a location for a posed photo and then you can return to your original seat. You will remain standing until all graduates from your row have returned to their original seats.
All graduates will remain in the arena/auditorium for the duration of the ceremony.

Length of Ceremony

The length of each ceremony differs by the number of degrees granted.

The summer and winter ceremonies are approximately 90 minutes in length.
The spring ceremony for graduate degrees is approximately 90 minutes in length and the spring ceremony for undergraduate degrees is approximately 2.5 hours in length.

Photography

The University has contracted the services of Lifetouch Special Events Photography for all commencement ceremonies. This service will provide a photograph of each graduate who crosses the stage and shakes hands with the President along with a posed photograph.

Graduates will receive a message sent to their official UND email address containing a link to the commencement photo proofs. There is no obligation to purchase photographs.

Visit Lifetouch Special Events for information about commencement photographs. Any questions may be addressed to:

specialevents@lifetouch.com
800.505.9496 (Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST)
Lifetouch

Recessional

After the President's closing remarks, the marshals will lead the platform group from the stage, followed by the graduates. Please meet your family and friends in a predetermined location following the ceremony to help minimize congestion.

Tips

You will be marching and standing a good part of the time; therefore, low-heeled, comfortable dress shoes are recommended. Since there are no secure areas to leave personal belongings, it is recommended that jackets, purses, and other personal items be left with your guests.