Commencement FAQs
Attention Families of Seniors: Please encourage your senior to attend Senior Fest
Students will learn everything they need to know to celebrate their final months on campus from now until May! Senior Fest features information stations, nominations of a student speaker for the commencement ceremony, the opportunity for students to complete their short online Senior Survey ahead of time and a chance to pick up a Senior 2018 Kiss My Class Good-Bye T-shirt! Senior Fest 2018 is on Wednesday, January 31 from 10am – 4pm in Cataldo.
Commencement FAQs
By: Angela Ruff, University Events
What time is the ceremony?
Sunday, May 13 at the Spokane Arena from 9:30am to 12:30pm. Doors open for general seating at 8:30am. Students check-in by 8:45am.
How do I get tickets?
No tickets are required for the Commencement ceremony, nor for Commencement Mass. There are no limits to the number of guests per student for either of these events. Note that special functions hosted by programs or departments are usually by invite only and may have attendance limits.
Is Commencement Mass only for Catholics?
All faiths are welcome at Mass where all students and families share appreciation and blessings on Saturday, May 12 at 3:30pm in McCarthey Athletic Center. Doors open at 2:30pm for general seating. Ushers can help with disabled or mobility-limited seating needs.
Will there be food at the reception following Commencement?
The reception back on campus is a great last-stop for pictures before students return their rented attire to the ZagShop. Join us until 2:30pm for light beverages and snacks. Note that there will be food available for purchase at the Spokane Arena.
What does my student need to do in order to graduate?
We invite all students graduating (finishing studies) in the calendar year to participate in our annual commencement events in May. This means that if your student is finishing classes in the summer, or even in December of 2018, they are invited to join us for the celebration of achievement. First, your student must apply to graduate in order to initiate the diploma-granting process, and to be eligible for ceremony participation. Then, ordering the required rental attire from Herff Jones counts as your student’s formal RSVP for the ceremony. Finally, students must pick up the ordered rental attire from the ZagShop prior to the ceremony.
How do I get pictures from the ceremony?
Several still photos of your student will be captured by our photographer team, Grad Images, at the ceremony. Proofs are available online beginning June 1. We publish the ceremony recording on the university YouTube channel within a couple of weeks of the ceremony, but you can order your own DVD from our partner, Graduation Nation, also beginning June 1.
Will you sell flowers at the ceremony?
Leis and flowers are available at the ceremony, through a program hosted by the Center for Cura Personalis. Leis can be pre-ordered in the early spring. Your purchase helps support student wellness programs.
Visit Gonzaga University Commencement for more details.