Commencement

Commencement Information

Rehearsal Instructions and the 20th annual Senior Shindig

Graduates will receive rehearsal instructions for the next day's ceremony on Thursday, May 14 at 5:30 p.m. in the Student Events Center on campus.  Following these instructions, graduates can celebrate at one of the longest traditions on the IU East campus- The Senior Shindig. Graduates and one guest may attend for free. Other friends and family may also join the party, music, food and prizes for $10.00 a person. Graduates will receive more details in the mail.

Day 71 and The Senior Class Toast

Toast the 71 Day Countdown to Commencement with a commemorative champagne glass!  Join the Chancellor on March 5 in the lobby of Whitewater Hall from 6 pm - 7:30 pm. Celebrate with your classmates as you head into the homestretch to commencement. *Why Day 71?  IU East was founded in 1971!

Ceremony

The Commencement Ceremony begins PROMPTLY at 6:00 pm on Friday, May 15 at the Tiernan Center. The ceremony lasts about 90 minutes and includes conferral of all degrees, a student speaker, and induction into the Alumni Association. The names of individual graduates are read as they cross the stage and are congratulated by school deans and the Chancellor.

Diplomas

IU East conducts one commencement exercise per year (upon conclusion of the spring semester). Students may participate in commencement if they graduated the previous December, graduated in May of the current year, or are candidates to graduate during the upcoming summer (June or August). Diplomas are not actually distributed at the commencement exercise. Instead, graduates will be presented in a crimson-colored IU diploma cover. The actual diplomas should be available approximately 6-8 weeks after students have been certified for graduation. Graduates will receive an email in their IU East email account from the Registrar when their diplomas will be mailed.

Caps and Gowns

Only rental apparel is used for the IU East Commencement Ceremony. Cap and gown orders may only be placed on online at herff.ly/iu or at the Grad Fair "Grad-a-polooza" 12noon-5pm on March 5 in front of the Campus Bookstore.

Order before March 29, 2020 at regular pricing:
Bachelor's will be $70.30 plus tax
Master's will be $93.80 plus tax

After March 30, 2020 prices will increase to the following until April 2, 2020:
Bachelor's will be $145.30 plus tax
Master's will be $168.80 plus tax

After April 2, 2020 the only way you can get a gown is during distribution at the bookstore. Sizing will be limited and not guaranteed.

Pricing during this time will be:
Bachelor's will be $145.30 plus tax
Master's will be $168.80 plus tax

Contact Campus Bookstore (765-973-8273) for information regarding availability of Caps and gowns after order period. (Bookstore Hours - Mon-Thur: 9-5, Fri: 9-3)

All candidates will wear Indiana University custom black robes and crimson sashes as well as tassels in the color of their academic discipline.

All graduates must order a cap and gown to participate in the ceremony.

Cap and Gowns will be available during normal hours beginning May 4 in the Campus Bookstore.

 

Professional Portraits for Job Seeker and Graduating Seniors

Grad Images will be on sight on Grad Fair day (12p-5p)  do that  business professional “head and shoulders” shot for social media sites, job or grad school applications.  Dress accordingly!

You can also get a “cap and gown” portrait!  These will be great to send out with your announcements.

No sitting fee-No obligation-No appointment necessary

View proofs online.

 

Robe Return

After the Commencement Ceremony, gowns will be returned to the Campus/Alumni representatives in the auxiliary gymnasium. Graduates may keep their caps and tassel and crimson sashes.

Graduating with Academic Distinction

To graduate with academic distinction, baccalaureate degree candidates must:

  • Rank within the highest 10% of the graduating class of their respective school,
  • Must have completed a minimum of 60 credit hours at Indiana University, and
  • Must meet the IU cumulative GPA criteria outlined below
    • Distinction 3.70 - 3.799 Crimson
    • High Distinction 3.80 - 3.899 Cream
    • Highest Distinction 3.90 - 4.000 Crimson & Cream

Candidates who are awarded honors in general scholarship are distinguished by fourrageres, which are looped cords worn from the left shoulder during the commencement exercise. Honors are awarded by vote of the various faculties, and the fourrageres are provided by the university. The appropriate recognition is recorded on the individual's diploma as a permanent testimonial of achievement.

Graduates who are members of the nearly 60 nationally recognized honor societies listed here may also wear their societies’ honors cords* or medallions during Commencement. Cords also are available for purchase directly from the various society headquarters.  Cords become the property of the student. *note “cords,” not sash or stole.

Honors cords will be distributed at Commencement Rehearsal to those who qualify. 

Permission to wear cords from an honor society not listed must be requested at least 30 days before Commencement.  The request must include detailed descriptions of the organization and the cord or medallion. Requests should be submitted to University Ceremonies at IU Bloomington, and to the Offices of Alumni Affairs on all other campuses.  Campus academic officers will be consulted on all such requests. Once approved the distinctive items may be worn at all subsequent Commencements

Suggestions for Dress

Men should wear dark suits. Black shoes and socks, white shirts, and dark, plain, four-in-hand ties are preferred. In exceptionally warm weather, men may be more comfortable by not wearing a coat under the gown. Women should wear dresses and dark shoes. Corsages should not be worn.

Tassel Placement

Candidates for first degrees wear tassels on the right sides of their caps until degrees have been announced by the IU President. After the conferral, bachelor and associate degree candidates grasp the tassel with the left hand and transfer it to the left side of the cap. Candidates who already have a degree wear their tassels on the left side.

Announcements

Order your personalized announcements though the Campus Bookstore or online at herff.ly/iu

Class Rings

Ring display and brochures are located in the Campus Bookstore or the Office of Alumni Relations and may be ordered on campus or online at herff.ly/iu.

Tickets

No tickets are required.

Seats are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Special Assistance

A Sign language interpreter will be provided. Special Needs seating is limited to the Tiernan Center's designated areas - space is limited, so there will be no reserved seating.

Graduation Photos

Photographs may be taken at any point during the ceremony, however you may be restricted from photographing from certain areas. The IU Alumni Association East Region contracts a photographer to take photos of the graduates in their caps and gowns. Graduates do not need to sign up for these photographs before the ceremony. A photographer will take their picture after they step from the stage holding their diploma covers. Proofs and order forms will be mailed to you after graduation.

Commencement DVDs may be ordered from the Whitewater Community Televison (WCTV). The cost is $15 ($5 from each sale will be contributed to the IU East Alumni Scholarship Fund. Orders must be prepaid. Go to www.wctv.info and click the Graduation DVD button.

Location of Ceremony and Directions

The Ceremony will be held at the Tiernan Center, 380 Hub Etchison Pkwy, Richmond, IN 47374 (at Richmond High School).

Map to Tiernan Center