Graduation

Seattle University School of Law holds Commencement ceremonies in December and May. Each is preceded by a Baccalaureate Mass and celebratory reception the day before.

REMINDER: December 2009 Graduation Student Remarks

Students graduating in December 2009 have the opportunity to include brief personal remarks in the graduation program. In the past, students have thanked people important to them and those who helped them through law school. Some students also included post-graduation plans. In order to be included in the program, you must submit your comments via this form no later than Sunday, November 22, 2009.

December 2009 Graduation

The Commencement ceremony will be coordinated by the Associate Dean for Student Affairs.  We invite your participation in this celebration and would like to share the details of the ceremony with you.

• Date, Time, Location of the Graduation Ceremony
• Reception and Baccalaureate Mass
• Caps and Gowns
• Selection of Faculty and Student Speakers
• Ceremony
• Application for Graduation
• Participation in Ceremony by Previous Graduates

Date, Time, Location of the Graduation Ceremony

Graduation will be held on Saturday, December 19, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at the Westin Hotel, 1900 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101.  Candidates for the Juris Doctor degree are encouraged to be present.  With the ceremony beginning at 10:00 a.m., graduates must arrive at 9:15 a.m.  Tickets for attendance and seating will not be required. 

Participants and guests can park in pay parking garages near the Westin Hotel. 

Reception and Baccalaureate Mass

The School of Law will host a reception for all graduates, their families and friends at the law school on Friday, December 18 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.  All family and friends of graduates are welcome to attend, including children.  Details to follow.  There will not be a reception following the graduation ceremony on Saturday. 

A Baccalaureate Mass will also be held on Friday, December 18 in the Chapel of St. Ignatius, located on the Seattle University campus.  Mass will begin at 5:30 p.m. and end at 6:30 p.m.  Graduates wishing to process should be in the Courtroom in the law school by 4:45 pm (in cap and gown but no hood).  All students and their guests, regardless of religious affiliation, are invited to attend.   

Caps and Gowns

Academic dress is required for the Commencement ceremony.

Regalia is provided free of charge to graduates.  You will need to order your regalia (online or in person on the date the regalia vendor is on campus) and pick it up in person. 

Monday, October 26, 3-6 pm - Cap and gown ordering

The School of Law provides each student with regalia, but you must place an order.  Ordering may be done online or in person.  Online ordering will be available by Monday, October 19, and the regalia company will be on campus on Monday, October 26 from 3 to 6 pm on the court level.  Pick up will be on Wednesday, December 9 from 3 to 6 pm , in the 2nd floor gallery.  If you wish to order announcements, they are available for purchase online when you order your gown or in person on Monday, October 26. 

Wednesday, December 9, 3-6 pm - Cap and gown pick up

Pick up your cap and gown in person; you may have someone else pick it up for you.  Caps and gowns will be available in the Dean's Office starting Thursday, December 10.

Selection of Faculty and Student Speakers

The Graduation Committee and the Associate Dean for Student Affairs will coordinate the election of the student and faculty commencements speakers.  The speakers will be elected by the graduating class.  A call for volunteers to form the Graduation Committee will go out via email in late September.  The Committee will participate in the selection of the student speaker, the faculty award winner and speaker, and the faculty hooders and marshalls.

Ceremony 

Guests:
Tickets are not required for graduation.  Students may invite as many friends and family to attend the ceremony as they wish.  Disabled seating will be available, and families will be able to sit together.

Instructions for Graduates:
Graduates must be at the assembly point in The Westin at 9:15 am, wearing their regalia.  Upon arriving, you will be given a card with your name on it.  Make sure you get a card before lining up.  Staff volunteers will be available to assist you with your regalia and lining up.  You may leave coats and belongings in the assembly area during the ceremony. 

Regalia will be returned after the ceremony, so please plan to take pictures beforehand.

Application for Graduation  

If you have not completed an application for graduation, please do so as soon as possible.  The application gives each student the ONLY opportunity to indicate the manner in which your name will appear on your diploma and the way in which it will appear in the graduation program.  Please include a phonetic spelling of your name on the card to ensure that your name is pronounced correctly during the ceremony.

All of us involved in planning this ceremony want each of you to know that it is our intent to make your graduation as pleasant and memorable as possible for you, your family and friends.  If you have any questions or concerns regarding this information or the arrangements as explained, do not hesitate to contact the Assistant to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs, Tricia Pearson, at 206-398-4302 or e-mail pearsonp@seattleu.edu. 

Participation in Ceremony by Previous Graduates

Individuals who received their degree in May 2009 or August 2009 and who did not participate in the May 2009 Commencement ceremony are invited to walk in the December 2009 ceremony.  To participate, please contact Tricia Pearson by email at pearsonp@seattleu.edu.

For information on applying for graduation and graduation requirements, go to the Registrar's page.