How long is the ceremony?
Ceremony lengths depend on many factors including number of graduates, speakers, and faculty awards and honors. Typically, the Graduate ceremony has been around 2-2.5 hours in length and the Undergraduate ceremony has been around 2.5-3 hours in length.
Cap and Gown Packages
All undergraduate and graduate students participating in the commencement ceremonies MUST purchase their cap and gown packages online directly through our vendor, Herff Jones, in order to participate in the May ceremonies. Packages can be ordered at the Grad Fair on February 9, 2024. If you have not purchased a cap and gown prior to the order deadline (March 9) we will assume that you are not planning to walk in the ceremony. Please order your cap and gown package here. Senior Send-Off Cap and Gown Pick Up is Friday April 19, 4-7 p.m. in the Campus Center Ballroom.
If you are unable to pick up your cap & gown or your rain site wristbands on Friday, April 19, please stop by the Pio Shop during their normal store hours beginning April 20 to pick up these items.
Commencement Attire
All candidates who participate in the commencement exercise must wear the university-approved academic attire. University-approved caps, gowns, tassels and hoods must be purchased through Herff Jones. Undergraduate regalia consists of a cap, tassel, and gown. Cords may be worn only by graduates achieving Latin Honors.Masters and Doctoral degree candidate regalia consists of cap, tassel, master's or doctoral gown*, and program degree hood. All students are welcome and encouraged to decorate their graduation caps to show their individuality and uniqueness, and to celebrate their time here at Carroll.
*Please note that master's and doctoral gowns are denoted by their unique sleeve shape which are each different than those of the undergraduate gowns.
Graduation Latin Honors
Graduation honors based on the cumulative grade point average (GPA)* are awarded to those students who have completed all requirements for the degree: summa cum laude requires a GPA starting at 3.9 on a 4.0 scale; magna cum laude requires a GPA starting at 3.6; cum laude requires a GPA starting at 3.4. In order to be eligible for honors, a student must complete at Carroll, one-half of the hours (currently 64) required for graduation:
The student must earn at least 64 credits from Carroll University with no more than 8 of those credits being graded Pass/Fail.
Since a student with transfer work has a Carroll and an overall GPA, the lower of the two GPAs determines eligibility for honors and placement into one of the above three honors categories.
*The GPA is not rounded up.
Second degree graduation honors will be awarded to students who have completed all requirements for the degree. There must be a minimum of 32 letter-graded credits completed at Carroll University. The entire undergraduate record is considered and, if there is transfer work, the lower of the Carroll or overall grade point average (GPA)* determines eligibility for honors and placement into one of the three following categories: summa cum laude requires a GPA starting at 3.9 on a 4.0 scale; magna cum laude requires a GPA starting at 3.6; cum laude requires a GPA starting at 3.4.
- Cum Laude graduates will wear a single orange cord
- Magna Cum Laude graduates will wear a double cord of orange and navy
- Summa Cum Laude gradates will wear a triple cord of orange, navy and white
How do I make a donation toward the 2024 Senior Class Gift Campaign?
Your Senior Class Gift Committee invites you to participate in the 2024 Senior Class Gift campaign beginning in January 2024 by making a donation to The Carroll Fund that benefits every student, teacher, program, and department on campus.
If you have any questions, email ctrione@carrollu.edu.
Do my guests need tickets?
No. Our ceremony is held on Main Lawn, where we are able to accommodate all guests. Graduates students will pick up four guest passes and undergraduate students will pick up three guest passes at Senior Send-Off Cap and Gown Pick Up, in the event that Commencement is moved indoor for inclement weather. If you cannot make Senior Sendoff, you may pick up your wristbands in the Pio Shop during normal store hours beginning April 20. Any wristbands not picked up by 3:00 p.m. on May 10 will be taken over to Shattuck for student check-in.,
Can guests attend Baccalaureate?
Yes, absolutely! Baccalaureate is a time-honored Carroll tradition that gathers graduates, students, faculty, staff and families to bless the graduating classes as they embark upon the next chapter in their journey. The Baccalaureate Service begins promptly on Friday, May 10 at 3 p.m. in Shattuck Auditorium.
Do my guests need chairs?
No. Chairs are provided for all attendees on Main Lawn.
What time should we arrive?
Graduates are asked to check into Shattuck Hall at least one hour before their ceremony. (5 p.m. for Graduate and 9 a.m. for Undergraduate.) Parking lots and shuttles will be staffed 1.5 hours before each ceremony. Main Lawn seating will open one hour before each ceremony.
Where can I park?
Parking is available in all lots on campus except for Lot 3 (Campus Center) is handicapped parking only and Lot 6 (Voorhees) is for emergency vehicles and handicapped drop-off only.
Can I take photos or video?
Guests are welcome to take photos and video. Each graduate will also be photographed by Empire Photography as they receive their diploma and also a solo portrait after they exit the stage. Click here to register for Empire Photography portraits. Additionally, each ceremony is livestreamed thanks to our videography team. Livestream videos will be archived and available after the Commencement ceremony.
Will there be concessions or food available?
Yes. We will have several available options for both Graduate Commencement and Undergraduate Commencement.
Friday May 10
- Stone Creek Coffee (located in the first floor of the library) | 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
- Gert's Grab and Go (located in the first floor of the Campus Center) | 3:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
- Concessions stand | 3:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Saturday May 11
- Stone Creek Coffee (located in the first floor of the library) | 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
- Gert's Grab and Go (located in the first floor of the Campus Center) | 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
- Concessions stand | 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
- Crave (located in Frontier Hall on Grand Ave) | 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Are noisemakers, balloons, or confetti allowed?
No. When planning to attend commencement, the following items are NOT permitted on the Carroll University campus:
- Artificial noisemakers
- Weapons/firearms
- Drones
- Fireworks
- Confetti poppers
- Balloons
Our Public Safety Department, Facilities staff and Groundkeepers thank you for your understanding and cooperation to help keep the campus safe and beautiful.
Are pets allowed?
Only ADA Service animals are allowed on campus. Thank you for your cooperation.
Is there a designated smoking/vaping area on campus?
No. In order to provide a healthy working and living environment for Carroll’s students, staff, faculty and neighbors, Carroll University is a tobacco-free campus. The use of tobacco and electronic nicotine delivery systems is not permitted in university buildings, on university grounds or in university-owned vehicles. There are no designated smoking areas on campus.