Commencement Information
Congratulations Graduates!
Commencement is the culminating event of an academic career, perhaps as significant to family and friends as it is to the graduate. As you begin planning for this very special occasion, this page will provide you with the essential information you need to know for the recognition of your success.
May 3, 2025 Commencement
Bachelor and Associate Degrees
Saturday, May 3, 2025 - 10:00 am
- 8:30 am – Registration: Library Auditorium
- 8:30 am - Doors to McNutt Campus Center Open for guests
- 10:00 am - Commencement Ceremony - Cutlip Auditorium - McNutt Campus Center.
- Reception: There will be a reception immediately following the ceremony. All graduates will receive three tickets for the food trucks at the reception. You will receive your tickets when you check-in for your ceremony. The Lemonade Truck and Frozen Brain require additional payment and are not covered by your ticket.
Undergraduate Students
Convocation Ceremony, Ivy Ceremony, Senior Soiree. May 2, 2025
- Convocation at 4:00 pm at McNutt Campus Center, Cutlip Auditorium.
- Ivy Ceremony and Senior Soiree at 5:00 pm.
- Registration for the Ivy Ceremony in front of the Academic Building main entrance facing Senior Lake.
- Professional photographer will be on site.
- Please be sure to wear your cap and gown.
Although the actual history of the William Woods University Ivy Ceremony remains a mystery, common belief is that early senior classes first planted ivy on campus during special graduation programs. Since then, the planting ritual has evolved into an ivy ceremony in the fall for incoming students and an ivy chain processional in the spring for graduating seniors.
Your participation in the ivy ceremonies has bonded you to the traditions held fast in the hearts of all William Woods University alumni. As the ivy entwines itself, so will your life be entwined with the lives of those around you. Every student on the William Woods campus is inextricably linked by the ivy bond, which symbolizes the development of friendships, goals, and common purposes.
During this graduation ceremony, the ivy chain will be severed, signifying that you are embarking on the next phase of your life. However, your ties to your alma mater will continue throughout your lifetime as an alumnus of William Woods University.
Doctorate, Master and Education Specialist Degrees
Saturday, May 3, 2025 - 2:00 pm
- 12:30 pm – Registration: Library Auditorium
- 1:00 pm - Doors to McNutt Campus Center Open for guests
- 2:00 pm - Commencement Ceremony - Cutlip Auditorium - McNutt Campus Center
- Reception: There will be a reception immediately following the ceremony. All graduates will receive three tickets for the food trucks at the reception. You will receive your tickets when you check-in for your ceremony. The Lemonade Truck and Frozen Brain require additional payment and are not covered by your ticket.
Commencement ceremonies are held in Cutlip Auditorium located in the McNutt Campus Center and typically last about one hour. Students will assemble in the Library Auditorium and should be there no later than one hour prior to the scheduled commencement ceremony.
Academic Policies to Participate in Commencement
The deadline to Register is April 7, 2025
- Undergraduate conferrals: Undergraduate students who will have their degrees conferred in October, December 2024, March or April 2025 may participate in the May 2025 commencement ceremony.
- Undergraduate June and August 2025 conferrals: Undergraduate students who will have their degrees conferred in June or August 2025 may participate in the May 2025 commencement ceremony with the approval of Academic Affairs. Students may petition to "walk short" if they are within six hours of their requirements and they register to complete the missing requirements at WWU before the end of their conferral date. (IE: A student who walks short in May 2025 must complete requirements prior to the June/August conferral date, or their conferral date will be pushed back.) They must complete the "Request To Participate In Commencement Short Credit Hours" form that is located in Owlnet. You can access that by using your Quicklaunch login, then Student Forms; or by logging into Owlnet, Student Tab; Student Forms tab.
- Master and Education Specialist Conferrals: Master and EDS students who will have their degrees conferred in October, December 2024, March, April, June, or August 2025 may participate in the May 2025 commencement ceremony. All students who participate in the May 2025 commencement ceremony must complete requirements prior to their conferral date, or their conferral date will be pushed back.
Doctoral Students
- June, August, October and December 2024, March and April 2025, Doctoral students who have successfully defended by April 25, 2025, may participate in the ceremony.
- Doctoral Students must purchase regalia from Herff Jones before the April 7, 2025 deadline. Please see below - "Order your Regalia"
- Doctoral students who defend after the deadline for printing Commencement Programs will not have their name in the Program.
Steps to Participte in Commencment
Register to Attend Ceremony
- Complete the Commencement Information Form to register to participate in the ceremony. The deadline to register is April 7, 2025.
Order your Regalia
- Order your regalia through Herff Jones by April 7, 2025, at 10:59 pm, to avoid a late fee.
- Orders placed April 8, 2025 through April 16, 2025 at 10:59 pm will be charged a expidited shipping fee and will be accepted until 10:59 pm on April 16, 2025.
- Orders will not be accepted after April 16, 2025, 10:59 pm.
- Printed Invitations and announcements for mailing to family and friends may be ordered from Herff Jones (see above link). All regalia must be ordered from Herff Jones. You are only required to order regalia. All other purchases from Herff Jones are voluntary.
- When you receive your regalia, check it with the following list to make sure you have the correct colors, etc.:
Degree Regalia Associates Gray cap and gown with white tassel BA Black cap and gown with white tassel BAS Black cap and gown with gold tassel BFA Black cap and gown with dark brown tassel BGS Black cap and gown with white tassel BS Black cap and gown with gold tassel BSW Black cap and gown with light yellow tassel MA Black cap and gown with white/green hood and white tassel MBA Black cap and gown with drab/green hood and drab brown tassel MED Black cap and gown with blue/green hood and light blue tassel MHA Black cap and gown with Kelly Green/green hood and Kelly Green tassel MS Black cap and gown, gold/green hood, gold tassel EDS Black cap and gown with blue/burgundy hood and light blue tassel EDD Black tam/gold tassel, black gown/blue chevrons and front plaque, black hood blue/green bands
If you receive incorrect regalia, please call Herff Jones Customer Service at 800.837.4235.
Legacy Stoles (Optional)
Honor your William Woods family tradition with a commemorative graduation stole. The stole is designed so names can be added as future generations of your family graduate from The Woods!
For the 2025 Spring Commencement, deadline to order is April 14, 2025.
The initial cost of a legacy stole is $75, and includes all initial embroidery. Future Legacy names can be embroidered for $20 per name.
More Information
Information for Families and Friends
Questions?
For other questions, please contact Janice Tate at janice.tate@WilliamWoods.edu or call 573.592.1174.
Although commencement is not a required activity, William Woods University encourages you to participate. Commencement marks a very important step in life as an occasion of celebration and achievement. You have worked very hard, and this ceremony gives the university the opportunity to congratulate you.