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.

May 2012 Graduation Information

May 2012 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

Date, Time, Location of the Graduation Ceremony

Graduation will be held on Saturday, May 12 at 10:00 a.m. at Key Arena, 305 Harrison Street. 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, AND THE NUMBER OF GUESTS EACH STUDENT CAN INVITE IS UNLIMITED.

Reception and Baccalaureate Mass

The School of Law will host a reception for all graduates, their families and friends at the law school Friday, May 11 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. All family and friends of graduates are welcome to attend, including children. There will not be a reception following the graduation ceremony on Saturday.

A Baccalaureate Mass will also be held on Friday, May 11 at 5:30 p.m. in the Chapel of St. Ignatius, located on the Seattle University campus. Graduates wishing to process should be in the Courtroom in the law school  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 either online or in person and pick it up in person.

Cap and Gown Ordering
The School of Law provides each student with regalia, but you must place an order. A link will be provided in early February. If you do not want to order online, you can place your order with a representative who will be at the law school on the 2nd floor gallery from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 20. 

Cap and Gown Pick up
Tuesday, May 1 from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m.
2nd Floor Gallery

If you cannot pick up your cap and gown on May 1, they will be available for you to pick up in the Dean's Office.

Academic dress is to be returned immediately following the ceremony. Please plan to have pictures taken prior to the ceremony so that your regalia can be returned with a minimum of confusion. You can address any questions about fees, fitting or pickup of the academic regalia to Lisa Van Wey (206-398-4302).

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. 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 at Key Arena at 9:15 a.m., wearing their regalia. Please arrive promptly at 9:15 a.m. 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.

Graduating students who have a family member who is a graduate of Seattle University School of Law may invite that relative to assist in his/her hooding during the ceremony. In keeping with the University tradition, members of the faculty, staff, University Board of Trustees or Board of Regents may also be invited to assist in the hooding of family members. If you meet the above criteria, please contact Lisa Van Wey.

Photographers from Gradtrak will be present to take photos as each student is awarded his or her degree. These will be viewable online a few days after the ceremony and available for purchase.

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, Lisa Van Wey, at 206-398-4302 or by e-mail.