Graduate Commencement

The university will hold its spring graduate commencement ceremony, for students receiving Doctoral Degrees, Master’s Degrees, Sixth Year Professional Di­plomas, Post-Master Certificates, and Graduate Certificates.

All Graduate Commencement ceremonies will take place at the John Lyman Center for Performing Arts

501 Crescent St, New Haven, CT

College of Arts & Sciences | School of Business

College of Health & Human Services

College of Education

More information on how to register will be available later this Fall.

Students eligible to participate in commencement must have completed their degree or diploma requirements in the Fall 2026 or Spring 2027 semesters. Students who are completing the final six (6) credits of coursework towards their degree during the Summer Session 2027 are also eligible to participate in graduate commencement. Please note that participation in commencement is not a confirmation of graduation from your program and diplomas are not issued at the event.

Students must complete an online Commencement Participation Form to walk in their commencement ceremony. All communications pertaining to Graduate Commencement will be sent to your Southern email address. Please check your account for updates.

Students must report to the main-level Rotunda area of Engleman Hall for check-in no later than:

• College of Arts and Sciences|School of Business: 9:45am
• College of Health and Human Services: 2:45pm
• College of Education: 5:45pm

Graduates are asked to move immediately to the check-in area in the Engleman Hall Rotunda to receive a line-up card for the academic procession. There will be a line position number on the card indicating your place in the procession. Candidates should not go to Lyman Center before the event.

Graduates and their guests may park in Wintergreen Avenue Garage, 23 Wintergreen Avenue New Haven, CT 06515.

For convenience, shuttle service is provided between Wintergreen Avenue Garage and the Lyman Center according to the following schedule:

Arts and Sciences|Business Ceremony: TBA

HHS and Education Ceremonies: TBA

There is no commencement rehearsal.

Students will be lined up by degree level with their respective school/program. You will need to keep your reader card with you to assemble for the procession and to have your name announced during the ceremony. This is the order in which you will proceed to the Lyman Center. Please do not fold or crush your Reader Card.

Staff members will direct all candidates to the appropriate areas to line up.

University marshals will lead the procession into the Lyman Center.

Your dean will ask you to stand at the appropriate time in the ceremony. You will then be asked to come forward to receive your diploma jacket on stage. You should have your reader card out and ready to hand off once on stage.

The university has arranged for a private professional photographer to take photographs of you receiving your diploma jacket on stage.

As part of our commitment to community care and sustainability, the University invites graduating students to donate gently used commencement regalia following this year’s ceremony.

After Commencement, a regalia collection station will be available in the lobby of the Lyman Center. Donated gowns and hoods will be reused to support future students who may face financial barriers to participating in this important milestone.

Your contribution—no matter how small—helps ensure that all graduates have the opportunity to celebrate their achievement with pride. Thank you for paying it forward after your pictures are complete by donating your used regalia to support future Owls.

Every graduate receives a minimum of two guest tickets upon on time registration. Details on registration will be released at a later date. Additional tickets are not guaranteed but may be released in the spring based on venue capacity.

Commencement will be streamed on YouTube for friends and family who are unable to attend the ceremony.

GradImages^® is proud to support one of the biggest moments in a graduate’s life: walking across the stage and into the next chapter. With over 40 years of experience, we understand the importance of this moment and the desire to preserve these memories for a lifetime. Finding your/your graduate’s photos after the ceremony is easy. Visit GradImages to view and purchase custom photo products like prints, plaques, specialty gifts, and more.

If have any questions or concerns regarding your photos, please contact the GradImages Customer Service Department at (800) 261-2576, online at www.gradimages.com, or email ecc.giservice@gradimages.net. We have a large team of customer care representatives ready to help graduates and family members with anything they may need.

This page will be updated throughout the semester leading up to commencement. If you cannot currently find the information you’re looking for, check back at a later date or email gpsinfo@southernct.edu.