Commencement and Graduation

Commencement FAQs

• When and where is Commencement?

  Commencement will be on Saturday, May 17, 2025, in the exhibition halls at the Saint Paul RiverCentre. The schedule of ceremonies is as follows:

  • Undergraduate ceremony at 10:30 a.m.
  • Graduate ceremony at 2 p.m.
• Are tickets required for Commencement, and how do I get them?

  Yes, tickets are required to enter the May 17 Commencement ceremonies at the Saint Paul RiverCentre exhibition halls. Graduates were given an opportunity to claim tickets for themselves and guests, and the ticketing site has now closed.

  If you are a grad and you missed the opportunity to claim your tickets, email us at commencement@hamline.edu, and we’ll do our best to help you.

  For guests who wish to watch the ceremonies, we will be livestreaming and have a link appearing on this website as we get closer to May 17. A video recording will be available after Commencement here as well.

• How do I get to Commencement? Where should I park?

  The RiverCentre provides directions and parking and transportation details on its website.

  To locate the exhibition halls from the RiverCentre parking ramp, take the elevator on the north side of the parking ramp to the skyway. Proceed through the skyway and follow the directional signage to the lobby to have your ticket scanned before entering the ceremony space.

  Tip: The RiverCentre parking ramp is next to the Science Museum of Minnesota parking ramp. If you mistakenly park in the science museum ramp, it does not connect via the skyway, and you'll have a longer walk outside.

• How do I learn about accessibility at Commencement?

  To learn about accessibility at the RiverCentre, visit the RiverCentre’s accessibility/ADA services web page.

• Are there restrictions on what I can bring to the Commencement ceremony?

  For the safety and security of all attendees, we will implement enhanced screening measures, including metal detectors, at the entrance. Graduates should only bring what is absolutely necessary and can fit under their seats. For all Commencement attendees, bag sizes are limited to no larger than 12”x12”x6”, and all of the items listed below are subject to search:

  • 12”x12”x6” or smaller purses
  • 12”x12”x6” or smaller clear bags
  • Diaper bags
  • Medical bags
  • Belt Bags (fanny packs)
  • Empty water bottles

  Prohibited items include:

  • Backpacks, Items larger than 12”x12”x6”
  • Weapons of any kind, including guns, knives, pepper spray, mace, chains, spikes, etc.
  • Food or beverage
  • Cans, glass bottles, coolers, and similar containers
  • Air horns, noise makers, balloons, and inflatable items
  • Laser pointers
  • Pets (other than service animals)
  • Masks intended for disguise or concealment, worn over or covering the face to hide a person's identity
  • Umbrellas over 18 inches when collapsed or with a sharp edge
  • Knitting or crochet equipment
  • Any other items deemed inappropriate or dangerous by Convention Center personnel, in their sole discretion
• If I graduate in December, how will I learn details about Commencement?

  Continue to check your Hamline email after you graduate, as that is the official way the university communicates with you about event details. Emails will come from commencement@hamline.edu.

  Sometimes recent grads overlook the annual password reset requirement. This blocks access to their Hamline email, and communications are missed. To avoid this happening, periodically check your Hamline email and reset your password before the deadline. If you need assistance reactivating your account, contact csd@hamline.edu.

• What paperwork do I need to graduate?

  Undergraduate students: If you have not already, apply for degree completion in Workday. This is a critical step to graduate; it will ensure your name is in the program and register you to receive emails about Grad Fair and Commencement.

  Graduate students: Please submit your intent to graduate form. This is a critical step to graduate; it will ensure your name is in the program and register you to receive emails about Commencement. Contact your graduate advisor if you have questions regarding the intent to graduate form.

• When will I receive my diploma?

  Diplomas are ordered once degree requirements have been verified for all graduating students. This is typically two weeks after the final grading deadline for each term. Once diplomas have been ordered, it takes approximately four to six weeks for them to arrive. Please email registrar@hamline.edu with any questions.

• Will the ceremony be livestreamed?

  Yes, the link will be available here as we get closer to May 17.

• What are the regalia attire guidelines?

  Graduating students are required to wear a black cap and gown to the Commencement ceremony. Students are permitted to decorate their caps to positively represent their Hamline University experience. Decorations must be flat on top of the cap so as not to obstruct the view of others. Approved organizations and academic societies distribute regalia pieces (e.g., stoles, cords, tassels, pins, medals) directly to the students who qualify for them.

  To honor our graduates and to create a respectful environment for members of our community on this special occasion, the images, symbols, and words that show the following are prohibited:

  • Profanity, nudity, sexual innuendos, or rude comments
  • Alcohol- and/or drug-related references
  • Political references
  • Content that advocates drug use, violence, or disruptive behavior that is harmful to the safety of students
  • Any symbols, words, etc., that represent any group/organization external to Hamline University

  Hamline reserves the right to prohibit students from wearing regalia adornments if they are deemed inappropriate beyond the list noted above. Students will be required to remove the unacceptable items to participate in the ceremony.

• How long will the ceremony last?

  The undergraduate ceremony will be around two hours. The graduate ceremony is expected to be around one hour.

• What time will doors open for the ceremony?

  The doors will open to guests one hour prior to each ceremony. Graduates should report to the grad line-up area one hour before the ceremony as well. Detailed day-of instructions will be sent to grads in early May.

• Is a prayer or reflection space available at the Commencement ceremony site?

  A designated prayer room will be available for students, families, and guests. In the RiverCentre, take the elevator to the fourth floor and enter room #4.

• How do I know if I'm graduating with Latin Honors?

  Latin honors are officially awarded upon completion of all degree requirements. Due to the timing of final grades, Latin honors for the Commencement ceremony are calculated after J-Term. Latin honors are only awarded at the undergraduate level. Those who qualify will be given a gold tassel for their mortarboard on Commencement day. Contact the registrar at registrar@hamline.edu with questions.

• Is photography allowed during the ceremony? Will there be professional photography at Commencement?

  You may take photographs from your seat. It is important to remain seated and not approach the stage to create a safe and positive viewing experience for other guests.

  Professional photographers will be at the ceremony to take photos of graduates crossing the stage and receiving their diplomas. Those images are available for order through the GradImages website. We will also have more candid photos captured and made available on this web page after Commencement.