All candidates must register to participate in the commencement ceremonies.
Instructions for Graduating Seniors
We ask your cooperation in observing graduation etiquette. Any items visible and worn with your academic regalia should be appropriate to the occasion and not detract from the recognition of your fellow graduating seniors. Do not wear flowers or decorative jewelry on your academic gown. Low-heeled shoes are recommended. Please be respectful as names are read, so that each and every graduating senior receives the proper recognition.
Please put your phones on silent. Additionally, keep in mind that on stage you will be using both of your hands simultaneously. One hand to receive your diploma and one hand to shake the dean’s hand. Wearing an outfit underneath the gown that has a pocket for your phone is ideal. Academic apparel does NOT have pockets. Please note that you do need your cell phone to register for graduation photos.
Please review the security page for all prohibited items.
Metal detectors will be at all entrances; please plan accordingly for lines into the facility.
- Apply to graduate - you MUST apply to graduate with the Registrar's Office. Complete the application before Friday, February 28, 2025, for the Spring 2025 semester. This will ensure your name is included in the printed commencement program. If you have a FERPA restriction on your account or apply after the deadline, your name will not print in the program.
- To check FERPA restriction status, login to SIS, click "My Profile," select “FERPA Restrictions” in the left navigation, then "FERPA Activities View." To remove restrictions, simply un-check the box.
- Register to participate in your ceremony. Registration deadline is April 18, 2025, at 12 p.m. EST.
- After the participation registration has closed, students are still welcome to participate in their ceremony! Students will simply need to fill out a blank name card upon their arrival on the day of their ceremony. Graduates that pre-registered will have a printed name card.
- Arrange for your cap and gown with the MSU Official Graduation Store, the Spartan Spirit Shop. Academic regalia can be purchased online or in-person at their MSU Union location. Questions about academic apparel can be emailed to spirit@msu.edu or by calling their MSU Union location at 517-355-5116.
- If you are Honor/High Honor: Pickup your honor cords from your Academic Advising/Student Affairs Office within your college.
Please bring your cell phone, if possible. You will need your cell phone to register for the graduation photos.
ASSEMBLY
Please review the college-specific ceremony information below for your assembly time and location and arrive in your academic apparel. Tassels should be on the RIGHT side of the cap. Name/photo cards are distributed at assembly. Commencement staff will direct all candidates at arrival. BRESLIN ENTRANCE MAP (PDF)
The University is not responsible for coats or other belongings left in the assembly or seating areas. Please leave your coats and other belongings with guests.
Babies, children, and other guests are NOT permitted on the Arena floor or in the degree candidate assembly or seating areas.
ORDER OF CEREMONIES
*This order may vary by college and/or ceremony venue
- Processional (walking in)
- The Star-Spangled Banner or America the Beautiful
- Moment of Silence
- Commencement Keynote Address
- Special Music
- Presentation of Degree Candidates, Conferral of Degrees, and Diploma Presentation
- Alma Mater
- Recessional
THE PROCESSIONAL
The processional begins about 10 minutes prior to ceremony start and proceeds as follows:
- Faculty
- Platform Party
CONFERRAL OF DEGREES AND PRESENTATION OF DIPLOMAS
Baccalaureate degree candidates wear tassels on the RIGHT.
Candidates rise at the invitation of their department chairperson. The dean, joined by the Board of Trustees, confers the degrees en masse. Degree recipients are seated and then escorted to the platform by degree. Graduates make their way to the stage. The dean presents the token diploma.
There will be at least one photo provided: 1) as you are presented with the token diploma, or 2) a posed photo before you return to your seat. Degree recipients are escorted back to their seats.
THE RECESSIONAL
After the Alma Mater, the recessional proceeds as follows:
- Platform Party
- Faculty
FOLLOWING THE CEREMONY
Breslin Center ceremonies: Baccalaureate degree graduates will exit through the Service Tunnel/Drive on the south side of the Breslin Center to meet guests outside of the facility.
It is strongly recommended to take photos inside of the Breslin (if desired) prior to candidate assembly as reentry will not be permitted per Breslin Center policy.
Wharton Center ceremonies: Baccalaureate degree graduates will meet guests in the Great Hall lobby following the conclusion of the ceremony.
BACCALAUREATE DEGREE CANDIDATES WITH DISABILITIES
Please contact the commencement office at commencement@msu.edu by Monday, April 7, 2025, with requests for accommodations for the ceremony. Requests made after that date will be met as possible. Parking is limited in the area.
We encourage all participants and their guests to use commencement shuttle bus service. Shuttle buses are accessible. There is no charge.
Barrier-free parking is located in the Breslin Center lot #126 (EAST SIDE OF THE SERVICE DRIVE/TUNNEL). Please enter from Shaw Lane. Parking in this area is limited to those with a State of Michigan or other State-issued disability placard. Breslin Area Parking Map
The Senior Class Council will select one graduating senior to deliver the student speech at the Undergraduate Convocation Ceremony on Friday, May 2 at 12:30 p.m. in the Breslin Center. Speeches are to be no longer than 4-5 minutes. If you are interested in representing the Class of 2025, please review the Speakers page for more information. Please see the memo from the Senior Class Council and the application to submit your speech.
Friday, May 2, 12:30 p.m. at the Breslin Center
This ceremony serves as a ‘kick-off’ to the commencement events and is for all graduating seniors. This ceremony is approximately ONE HOUR. Degrees are not conferred at this ceremony. Graduates are seated in floor seating and the bleachers and remain seated for the duration of the ceremony. Graduates do not register for Convocation. Guests are welcome to attend and there are no tickets required.
Assembly Instructions
Graduates should begin arriving one hour prior to the ceremony start time. Graduates enter the facility by taking the service drive/tunnel on the south side of the Breslin Center, down to the Arena level. Seating will be open on the arena floor and bleachers; Graduates are not seated by college in this ceremony. Graduates must be in academic apparel (cap and gown).
Find college-specific graduation information below.
Doors open one hour prior to ceremony start time. Each ceremony is about two hours (Social Science is about two and a half hours). Babies, children, and other guests are NOT permitted on the Arena floor or in the degree candidate assembly or seating areas.
Please review the clear bag policy on the Breslin Center's website.
There are no limits on guest attendance, and no tickets are required. Please refer your guests to the Guests page for more information
Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.
Breslin Center, 534 Birch Road
Contact: Dorcia Chaison, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs, 517-355-0234 or chaison@msu.edu
Assembly: Candidates enter the Breslin Center through the Service Tunnel/Drive on the south side of the building at 6:30 p.m. to clear security measures and access the Arena Level. Name/photo cards will be distributed in the Service Area. After picking up your name card, students will be directed to the stands and will sit with their department/major.
Exit: Students exit the Breslin Center through the Service Tunnel/Drive at the south side of the building to meet guests outside.
Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
Wharton Center, Cobb Great Hall, 766 East Shaw Lane
Contact: Marissa King kingma17@msu.edu & Corrine Williams will4275@msu.edu
Assembly: Candidates assemble at 6:00 p.m., Stoddard Grand Tier Lounge for the processional. Follow graduate signage to the third floor. Name/photo cards are distributed at assembly. Following the ceremony, a reception will be held in the Grand Foyer (Great Hall lobby).
Sunday, May 4, 2025 at 8:30 a.m.
Breslin Center, 534 Birch Road
Cara Cilano, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies
Contact: Delaney Atkinson, 517-355-0366 or atkin148@msu.edu
Assembly: Candidates assemble at 7:45 a.m., on the Arena floor. Take the Service Tunnel/Drive on the south side of the Breslin Center down to the Arena level. Name/photo cards will be distributed in the Service Area. After picking up your name card, students will be directed to the stands and will sit with their department/major.
Exit: Students exit the Breslin Center through the Service Tunnel/Drive at the south side of the building to meet guests outside.
Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.
Breslin Center, 534 Birch Road
Contacts: Mahin Sandoval-Chavez - sandov90@msu.edu; Brekelle Wiedenmannott - wiedenma@msu.edu
Assembly: Candidates assemble at 3:00 p.m. on the Arena floor. Take the Service Tunnel/Drive on the south side of the Breslin Center down to the Arena level. Name/photo cards will be distributed in the Service Area. After picking up your name card, students will be directed to the stands and will sit with their department/major.
This ceremony is about 2 ½ hours.
Exit: Students exit the Breslin Center through the Service Tunnel/Drive at the south side of the building to meet guests outside.
Friday, May 2, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
Breslin Center, 534 Birch Road
Jennifer New, Associate Director - 517-355-1794 or jnew@msu.edu
Assembly: Candidates assemble at 6:00 p.m. on the Arena floor. Take the Service Tunnel/Drive on the south side of the Breslin Center down to the Arena level. Name/photo cards will be distributed in the Service Area. After picking up your name card, students will be directed to the stands and will sit with their department/major.
Exit: Students exit the Breslin Center through the Service Tunnel/Drive at the south side of the building to meet guests outside.
Sunday, May 4, 2025 at 5:00 p.m.
Breslin Center, 534 Birch Road
Kristy Dumont, Director of Undergraduate Affairs
Contact: Robin Lenkart – 517-884-3951 or lenkartr@msu.edu
Assembly: Candidates assemble at 4:00 p.m. Take the Service Tunnel/Drive on the south side of the Breslin Center down to the Arena level. Name/photo cards will be distributed in the Service Area. After picking up your name card, students will be directed to the stands and will sit with their department/major.
Exit: Students exit the Breslin Center through the Service Tunnel/Drive at the south side of the building to meet guests outside.
Sunday, May 4, 2025 at 2:00 p.m.
Breslin Center, 534 Birch Road
Amanda Idema, Assistant Dean
Contact: Mary Pease - 517-432-7749 or Peasem@msu.edu
Assembly: Candidates assemble at 1:00 p.m., Arena level. Take the Service Tunnel/Drive on the south side of the Breslin Center down to the Arena level. Name/photo cards will be distributed in the Service Area. After picking up your name card, students will be directed to the stands and will sit with their department/major.
Exit: Students exit the Breslin Center through the Service Tunnel/Drive at the south side of the building to meet guests outside.
Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 12:30 p.m.
Wharton Center, Cobb Great Hall, 766 East Shaw Lane
Contact: Elizabeth Newman – enewman@msu.edu
Assembly: Candidates assemble at 11:30 a.m., Stoddard Grand Tier Lounge for the processional. From the Grand Foyer (Great Hall lobby), take the stairs up to the Stoddard Grand Tier Lounge (balcony level). Name/photo cards are distributed at assembly. Following the ceremony there will be a reception at Case Hall. Invitations with details will be sent in April.
Sunday, May 4, 2025 at 11:30 a.m.
Breslin Center, 534 Birch Road
Niki Rudolph, Assistant Dean
Contact: Sarah Evans-Cain – 517-353-6480 or evansca7@msu.edu
Assembly: Candidates assemble at 10:30 a.m. Take the Service Tunnel/Drive on the south side of the Breslin Center down to the Arena level. Name/photo cards will be distributed in the Service Area. After picking up your name card, students will be directed to the stands and will sit with their department/major.
Exit: Students exit the Breslin Center through the Service Tunnel/Drive at the south side of the building to meet guests outside.
Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.
Wharton Center, Cobb Great Hall, 766 East Shaw Lane
Contact: Michael Kroth, Associate Dean, 517-884-9449 or kroth@msu.edu; or Talitha Trout, Director, 517-432-2616 or TalithaT@msu.edu
Assembly: Candidates assemble at 3:30 p.m., Stoddard Grand Tier Lounge for the processional. From the Grand Foyer (Great Hall lobby), take the stairs up to the Stoddard Grand Tier Lounge (balcony level). Name/photo cards are distributed at assembly.
Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 12:30 p.m.
Breslin Center, 534 Birch Road
Heidi Purdy, Assistant Dean
Contact: Dawn Therrian-Taylor - 517-355-4470 or therria5@msu.edu
Assembly: Candidates arrive at 11:30 a.m. Take the Service Tunnel/Drive on the south side of the Breslin Center down to the Arena level. Name/photo cards will be distributed in the Service Area. After picking up your name card, students will be directed to the stands and will sit with their department/major.
Exit: Students exit the Breslin Center through the Service Tunnel/Drive at the south side of the building to meet guests outside
Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.
Wharton Center, Cobb Great Hall, 766 East Shaw Lane
Contact: Laurel Noon – 517-353-4827 or switzen1@msu.edu
Assembly: Candidates assemble at 8:00 a.m., Stoddard Grand Tier Lounge for the processional. From the Grand Foyer (Great Hall lobby), take the stairs up to the Stoddard Grand Tier Lounge (balcony level). Name/photo cards are distributed at assembly.
Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 8:30 a.m.
Breslin Center, 534 Birch Road
Emily Durbin, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies
Contact: Tami Muethel, muethel@msu.edu
Assembly: The Breslin Center doors will open at 7:30 a.m. Candidates start assembling at 7:30 a.m., Arena level. Take the Service Tunnel/Drive on the south side of the Breslin Center down to the Arena level. Name/photo cards will be distributed in the Service Area. After picking up your name card, students will be directed to the stands and will sit with their department/major.
This ceremony is about 2 ½ hours.
Exit: Students exit the Breslin Center through the Service Tunnel/Drive at the south side of the building to meet guests outside.
Friday, May 2, 2025 at 12:30 p.m.
Wharton Center, Great Hall, 766 East Shaw Lane
Contact: Jeanne (Jeannie) Walser - WalserJe@cvm.msu.edu
Immediately following the ceremony there will be a reception in the lobby.