Ceremony Information | University Commencement | SIU

Class Photo

Chancellor Lane will take a group photo with all graduates on the steps of the Banterra Center, 45 minutes before each ceremony (weather permitting). Meet at the steps for one final memory with the Class of 2024!

May Commencement ceremonies will take place on Saturday, May 11, 2024 in the Banterra Center, 1400 Arena Drive, Carbondale, IL.

More information about schools included in each college is available here.

The commencement ceremony is expected to be 2 to 2.5 hours in length.

A live stream of all ceremonies will be available on SIU's YouTube channel.

What to Wear

Business or business-casual attire is appropriate under your academic regalia (cap and gown). The Commencement Team requests your help in upholding the dignity and tradition of our Commencement by avoiding any action that may be distracting or inappropriate to other graduates or guests.

Regalia (Cap and Gown) Information

Regalia is required of all graduates participating in commencement.

Doctoral students must order hood and regalia.

Deadline to order regalia for pick up at the University Bookstore at the SIU Student Center is Monday, April 1, 2024 by 10 p.m. Orders placed for pickup at the University Bookstore will arrive on or before May 6th.

Regalia may be ordered online with a ship-to-home option by Tuesday, April 16 at 10PM. 

Please note; graduate application fees do not include regalia rental fees. Regalia rental is a separate fee.

Regalia shipped to home will have a prepaid return label, and should not be returned to the University Bookstore. 

Regalia ordered at the University Bookstore can be picked up in the week prior to commencement, and returned at Saluki Stadium or to the University Bookstore the week after Commencement. To contact the University Bookstore, call 618-536-3321. 

Please visit Commencement Regalia for more details.

Stoles

Students are welcome to wear honor, organization or other affiliation stoles; however, SIU stoles and cords should be displayed above all others. Undergraduates who rent regalia from the University Bookstore or online through Herff Jones will receive a maroon “stole of gratitude”, to be worn at Commencement. After Commencement, according to tradition, the stole is then presented by the graduate to someone who has provided help or support to them while they earned their degree.

Active Military, Police Officers and Firefighters

SIU Commencement permits active duty military, police officers and firefighters to wear their dress uniforms instead of traditional cap and gown regalia

Get more details on SIU Commencement Regalia.

Reader's Cards

Reader's cards (also called name cards) are used to announce graduate name as they cross the stage at the commencement ceremony. Graduates will be led to the stage by a marshall; the reader/name card is given to the person at the microphone just before walking across the stage.

Reader's cards may be picked up at the University Bookstore beginning December 11. The cards will also be available on commencement day at the Banterra Center, in the First-Mid Lounge. Marshals on the floor will also have a supply of blank cards. Please be sure to fill in an email address, so you can receive information regarding graduation photos taken during commencement.  

Seating

Graduate seating will be on the floor of the Banterra Center. All students should arrive at least 45 minutes before the start of the ceremony.

All Doctoral degree candidates will sit in front of the undergraduate and master’s degree candidates. All colleges/schools will sit together, but there will not be a certain order on the floor within each academic unit. Graduates arriving late may not be seated on the floor with their college/school or degree. Late arrivals may be seated to the side of the stage.

What do I do with personal items during the ceremony?

SIU does not provide a secure location for graduates to leave purses, bags, jackets, and other personal items and is not responsible for items left unattended. Given the seating arrangement, you may not be seated in the same chair after receiving your scroll or diploma, so do not plan to leave personal items under your chair. Please make arrangements beforehand for a friend or family member to care for your belongings during the ceremony.

Photography

Graduation photography is provided by GradImages. Find your SIU Graduation Photos!

Discouraged Items

To be mindful of other guests attending commencement, balloons, balloon bouquets, signs or anything that obstructs the view are discouraged in the Banterra Center. Please leave these items in your car. Noise makers including air horns and cow bells are discouraged. No alcohol or tobacco products. Outside food and drink may not be brought into the Banterra Center. Firearms and fireworks are prohibited. Pets are not allowed. All bags may be subject to inspection at all entries to the Banterra Center.

When will I receive my diploma?

Pending successful completion of your degree requirements and after all outstanding financial obligations to the University have been met, you will receive your diploma via United States Postal Service. The process of degree evaluation, degree posting, and diploma mailing takes up to ten weeks after the end of the graduation term. Doctoral graduates will receive their diploma after the ceremony, if all financial obligations to the University have been met.

You may monitor the status of your graduation application in SalukiNet by going to the Registrar -- Academic Records & Graduation task center and then launching the View Your Filed Graduation Application Status task. If you have changed your diploma address (changing your address on Salukinet does not change where your diploma is mailed), please email the Graduation Office staff at graduation@siu.edu.

Doctoral Candidates

Hooding Instructions for Doctoral Candidates

The Graduate School of Southern Illinois University Carbondale calls for doctoral students to be hooded by their Advisor/Chair at the commencement ceremonies. If the Advisor or Chair is not available, then another committee member may hood the candidate. In the event that none of the committee members are available, then the program director, director of graduate studies, or the dean of the college or school may hood the student. A family member cannot hood a doctoral candidate.

Procedures for Doctoral Candidates

Assemble at least 45 minutes prior to the beginning of the ceremony at the Troutt-Wittmann Center 2nd floor hallway adjacent to the Banterra Center. Faculty Doctoral Advisors walking with a doctoral candidate should line-up with their doctoral candidate at the Troutt-Wittmann Academic Center hallway.

Each candidate should arrive in their academic regalia (cap and gown). The doctoral hood is draped over the left arm as candidates process to the Banterra Center floor. Graduate School staff will distribute reader cards at check-in. Marshals will direct you to appropriate places before and during the ceremony. Each advisor should be seated with their advisee(s). Advisors hooding multiple candidates should sit with the candidate who will be hooded first.

For the hooding, candidates and their advisors will approach the platform from the floor. The candidate hands their reader card to the reader, who reads their name. The candidate then moves to the designated location on stage where they are hooded by their advisor. After hooding, the candidate proceeds to the middle of the platform, where they receive their diploma from the Provost or dean of the Graduate School.

Candidates may have the opportunity to shake hands and/or take photos with University administrators on the stage before leaving the stage from the middle and returning to their original seats.