Commencement Exercises Info for TMU Graduates

How do I get my tickets and parking pass?

If you have been approved to walk in Commencement by the Registrar, your 10 guest tickets and parking pass will be issued to your TMU student email in March 9th 2026. (For more details, see “How can I be approved to walk in Commencement?” below) 

Additional parking passes will be available in limited quantities for purchase at the time of ticket distribution. (See “Where do I park?” below) 

What’s the difference between Commencement and graduation?

Commencement is the event that celebrates the completion of degree programs. Graduation is the official awarding of degree(s) earned after you’ve completed all degree requirements.  

Undergraduate students are allowed to participate in Commencement with 6 units or less remaining, so walking in Commencement does not automatically mean you have graduated. Diplomas will be sent to you after all grades are turned in and graduation verification is completed. 

How can I be approved to walk in Commencement?

You must complete your graduation contract by December 19, 2025 and receive approval for Commencement by the Registrar.  

For more detailed instructions, please read the following steps. 

STEP 1: Start your Graduation Contract Application.  Required for all graduating students. 

STEP 2: Plan your last requirements in Stellic with your advisor. 

STEP 3: Registrar review – we’ll reach out by email to finalize or ask questions about your plan. 

STEP 4: Sign and finalize the graduation contract. You must sign the contract and pay your graduation fee by December 19, 2025, to avoid the late fee. 

You must be approved by February 27, 2026 to be able to walk in Commencement 2026. Once approved, tickets will be given to you through your student email.

How do I manage and view all my tickets?

Please click “Find Tickets” in the top right corner. Enter the student email address your tickets were originally sent to. Under “Your Orders” you will be able to see all tickets under your email address. You can then edit the tickets to assign them to individual guest names and emails. See “Ticketing/Parking Pass” section for details on how to transfer tickets.  

What if I need more tickets?

Due to space constraints, no additional tickets will be available this year beyond the 10 tickets allotted for each student. However, graduates may transfer tickets from their allotment to other graduating students. Instructions for transferring tickets will be provided when tickets are issued.  

Where do I park?

All graduate and guest vehicles on campus will require a Commencement-specific parking pass. Each graduate approved for Commencement will be given one parking pass for an assigned lot with their guest tickets in March 2026.  

Additional parking passes will be available for purchase in limited quantities at the time of ticket distribution. 

To help with capacity, accessible parking spaces for handicapped guests (in vehicles with designated placards) will be available to reserve using the ticketing site. These specially reserved parking spaces will have a designated entrance adjoining the commencement venue.  

More information will be available at the time of ticket distribution, March 9, 2026. 

When do I pick up my cap and gown?

Graduates’ regalia will be available for pick-up at the end-of-year-fair on Friday, May 1, 2025, at the Registrar’s booth. 

If you are unable to pick up your regalia at that time, you may stop by the Office of the Registrar located in Vider Hall, from Monday, May 4, to Thursday, May 7, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

On the day of Commencement, Friday, May 8, any regalia that has not been picked up will be available at the practice for the ceremony.  

All regalia is yours to keep! 

Regalia instructions: 

• Hang up your regalia immediately or hang it in the bathroom to steam while showering to remove wrinkles (no later than the day before).  

• Graduate level hoods will be carried over the arm until you are hooded on stage by faculty. 

• Caps are worn parallel to the ground with the tassel on the right. 

What do I wear to the Commencement Ceremony?

Please wear your Sunday best (shoes included) and be mindful of cooler weather on the field in the evening. For men, this should include long pants and closed toed shoes. For women, no stilettos are allowed as these damage the athletic field. Be sure to steam (do not iron) and hang your robe.  

How do I schedule Cap & Gown Portraits?

All the graduates have received an email from Ultimate Exposures to schedule an appointment for portraits. Photos will be taken at TMU in the MacArthur Center Lobby on Thursday, April 30th, 2026. 

How do I obtain the photos taken during Commencement?

All photos before and during Commencement are taken by Ultimate Exposures. After the ceremony, you will receive an email from Ultimate Exposures with more information on how to purchase your graduation photos. 

Does TMU allow graduation parties on campus before or after Commencement?

All of our staff are focused on getting ready for Commencement. Unfortunately, we do not have the resources to set up and clean up graduation parties. We recommend contacting local restaurants, hotels or the graduate’s church to host small groups. Unsanctioned events on The Master’s University premises will be asked to leave.