If you are a student participating in the ceremony and have accessibility needs, please contact Kimberly Schumann in Disability Services, (651) 962-6315. Please submit by April 19 to ensure availability of equipment if needed.

The best and closest locations to the graduation sites for guests with accessibility needs is the Anderson Student Center. Drop off and pick-up for guests with accessibility needs will be in the Anderson Student Center turn-around. This is located off of Cretin Avenue just north of Summit Avenue. Golf cart rides will be available from this accessible drop off area to O’Shaughnessy Stadium for guests with limited mobility. Also there is accessible parking in the Anderson Student Center parking garage for those with state-issued handicap permits. Enter the drop-off area and garage from Cretin Avenue northbound only. There is no left turn into the turn-around southbound on Cretin Avenue. For safety reasons there is no drop off or pick up on Summit Avenue or Cretin Avenue North. Click here to view the parking lots on campus. Please do not park in the neighborhood out of respect for our neighbors. Several streets have signs requiring city-issued residential parking permits.

There are designated seating areas at the ceremony for people with limited mobility. People also can sit at the end of a row and ask an usher to remove a chair. Ushers will be available to assist people with mobility impairments.

The St. Paul bookstore will be hosting a "Grad Fest" on Wednesday, April 24, and Thursday, April 25, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the bookstore atrium. Five free graduation announcements will be handed out at that time. Additional announcements can be purchased in the bookstore. Personalized announcements can be ordered by connecting to the following link or through the St. Thomas bookstore website after April 1.

In keeping with the solemnity of the occasion, graduates must wear university-issued academic regalia, including cap and gown. Only university issued honor cords and medallions are approved for wear during the ceremony. No other oversized personal adornments, such as flower leis, hats, signs, ribbons, or scarves are acceptable.

The cap should be worn with the mortarboard parallel to the ground and without any additional modification to the appearance. Candidates receiving their Bachelor's degrees should wear the tassel on the right side. It is moved to the left side at the designated time.

It is recommended that personal clothing include dark pants for men, dark pants or skirts for women, and comfortable dark shoes. Jeans or flip flops are not acceptable.

The St. Paul-campus bookstore in the lower level of Murray-Herrick campus center will be hosting a "Grad Fest" on Wednesday, April 24, and Thursday, April 25, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the bookstore atrium. Caps, gowns and tassels will be distributed at that time. If you are unable to attend, you can pick up your cap, gown and tassel(s) at the St. Paul-campus bookstore Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Fridays 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The week of commencement, the St. Paul-campus bookstore will distribute caps and gowns on Saturday, May 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; May 20-23 from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday, May 24 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is no charge for your cap and gown. You will need a picture ID when picking up your cap and gown.

Saturday, May 25, 2 p.m.

12:30 p.m. Faculty and staff marshals report to Schoenecker Arena to line up. Appropriate academic regalia is required.

12:45 p.m. Faculty and staff marshals robed and ready to assist students.

12:30 p.m. Gates open to O'Shaughnessy Stadium for guests.

1:15 p.m. Schoenecker Arena doors open and graduates should find their name on the alpha list by the cardio room, then proceed to their row in the arena by 1:30 p.m.

1:30 p.m. Faculty and staff members (non-marshals) are encouraged to attend the ceremony and march in the processional to show support and encouragment to the graduates. Report to Shoenecker Arena to line up. Appropriate academic regalia is required.

2 p.m. Commencement exercises begin with the academic procession from Schoenecker Arena.

4:30 p.m. President's reception in the lower quadrangle following the ceremony. Graduates, guests, faculty members and administrators are invited. Rain site is the Anderson Student Center.

The Commencement Mass, a long-standing tradition at St. Thomas, begins at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 24, at the Cathedral of St. Paul. The cathedral is located at 239 Selby Avenue. Caps and gowns are not worn during the Mass.

You will receive your diploma when all requirements for your degree are completed. In addition, your tuition account must be paid in full and, if requested, you must complete a Perkins Loan exit interview. Your diploma will be mailed to you approximately eight weeks after all requirements are verified as completed.

All seniors who place a pre-paid order for diploma frames during "Grad Fest" on Wednesday, April 24, and Thursday, April 25, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. will receive a 10% discount on their pre-paid orders. Diploma frames will be available for pickup the week of graduation.

The size of all diplomas is 8.5x11 inches. Information on the diploma includes the name of the university, the university seal, the graduate’s name, the degree represented by the diploma, and the date of graduation.

Fresh flowers from Commencement Flowers will be available for purchase on the day of commencement. They are also available for pre-order by clicking here.

Students receiving Latin honors, Aquinas Scholars cords and Delta Epsilon Sigma cords have been notified by email from Academic Affairs about pick-up dates.  

Aquinas Scholars cords and certificates will be distributed at the Aquinas Scholars Honors convocation on Tuesday, May 14. Invitations have been sent by email to eligible students. Please contact Kathy Tischler, ktischler@stthomas.edu if you have any questions.

Latin honors ribbons, medallions and Delta Epsilon Sigma cords will be distributed in Aquinas Hall, suite 110, on the following dates and times: May 20 and 21 from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., May 22 from 8:30 a.m.-5:45 p.m. and May 23 from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

All other honors should be collected from the sponsoring department or student organization.  Please contact that department or organization directly for pick-up times.

Please click on this link and go to "Hotel Information." Follow the directions for each hotel to get the UST rate.

Live streaming video will be available during the ceremonies.

Click on this link for the campus map.

Students and faculty members should not leave valuables in the arena during lineup.

Students and faculty should wear comfortable shoes with a low heel. You will be walking a distance from the line up area to the stadium during the procession.

Come prepared with hats, sunglasses and sunscreen for the outdoor ceremony.

We request that you do not bring items into the stadium that might distract from the dignity of the ceremony, or create any action that interferes with the ceremony. Thank you for demonstrating your support and giving the ceremony the dignity and honor that it richly deserves.

Important Note: Possession or consumption of alcohol is strictly prohibited during the procession and ceremony.

Newspaper announcements of graduates are issued for all verified undergraduate and graduate students. Please note that the list of verified students is not available until approximately one month after the end of a term. In addition, it can take two to three weeks to process and mail the list. Publication is at the discretion of local newspapers. If you have questions regarding the releases, please contact Kelly Engebretson at hail9100@stthomas.edu.

Please notify Barbara Rath at barath@stthomas.edu or (651) 962-6708 if you do not plan to attend the ceremony.

Guests are encouraged to park in the Anderson Parking Facility, enter off of Grand Avenue and Cretin Avenue, the Morrison Hall Ramp, enter off of Selby Avenue at Finn Avenue, or the McNeely Ramp, enter off of Grand Avenue and Cleveland Avenue. Parking is also available at all of the surface parking lots with red or yellow signs. Click here to view the parking lots and ramps. The Morrison Hall Ramp has height restrictions of 12' 6". See "Accessible Parking" for information on parking with a handicap permit and assessable drop-off. Please do not park in the neighborhood out of respect for our neighbors. Several streets have signs requring city-issued residential parking permits.

Please click here‌ to view the participation list. If your name does not appear on the list, please review your degree evaluation on MURPHY Online and contact your advisor for additional assistance.

A professional photographer from GradImages will take your picture as you receive your diploma. Proofs will be sent to your permanent address and via email within three to five days after the ceremony. There is no obligation to purchase. Pictures can be ordered online, by phone or by mail. GradImages can be contacted at (800) 261-2576 or via email at www.gradimages.com.

Picture-taking on or near the stage is prohibited.

In the event that weather does not permit the ceremony to be held in the stadium, an announcement will be on the commencement website by 11:30 a.m. on the day of the ceremony.

The rain plan ceremony will be held in the field house, which has limited seating. The doors to the field house will open at 1 p.m. Students participating in the ceremony will be given two tickets for guest seating in the field house. Students will receive their two tickets when they pick up their caps and gowns. Infants and toddlers can sit on adults' laps and do not need tickets. There will be no entry to the field house for ticket holders during the procession which begins at 2 p.m. Guests with tickets need to be in the building and seated a minimum of 15 minutes before the procession begins.

Other family members and guests will be directed by ushers to video-viewing sites on campus. To view a list of the video-viewing sites, click here. Campus maps can be accessed online. The ceremony also can be viewed online by accessing the UST Commencement website, then clicking on Video in the bottom-right corner. The video can be viewed on the day of commencement.

The president's reception will take place in the Anderson Student Center following the ceremony. Graduates please plan to meet your guests at the reception.

All graduates should report to Schoenecker Arena in the Anderson Athletic and Recreation Complex by 1:30 for lineup. Faculty marshals should report to Schoenecker Arena at 12:30 p.m., and all other faculty members at 1:30 p.m.

The president's reception will immediately follow the ceremony in the lower quadrangle. Graduates please plan to meet your guests at the reception. Rain site is the Anderson Student Center. An assortment of gourmet cookies, lemonade and punch will be served.

Father Dennis Dease, president of the University of St. Thomas, will be the commencement speaker. Fr. Dease became the 14th president of St. Thomas in 1991. During his tenure as St. Thomas president, the university has: established a Minneapolis campus and constructed four buildings; constructed nine major buildings on the St. Paul campus, including a student center, an athletic and recreation complex, a science and engineering center, an undergraduate business building and two new apartment-style residence halls; opened a Rome campus; started academic programs in law, Catholic Studies, mechanical and electrical engineering, entrepreneurship and Irish studies, and greatly increased study-abroad participation with semester-long programs based in London and Rome; tripled, to 14 percent, the student-of-color population and also tripled the number of international students who attend St. Thomas.

Fr. Dease recently led the very successful Opening Doors capital campaign which raised $515 million. It was the largest campaign ever conducted by a private institution of higher learning in the five-state area.  The money raised was more than all previous St. Thomas campaigns combined.

Fr. Dease will retire as president on June 30, 2013, upon completion of his 22nd year in office.

Tassels will be handed out when students pick up their caps and gowns from the bookstore. The tassel color is determined by a student’s major(s). The colors are listed below. Tassels are worn on the right side of the mortarboard.

White: arts and letters, humanities, Catholic studies
Scarlet: theology, peace and justice
Dark blue: philosophy
Golden yellow: science
Drab: business
Light blue: education
Salmon pink: public health
Orange: engineering
Crimson: journalism
Citron: social work
Brown: fine arts
Pink: music
Sage green: physical education
Copper: economics

To receive text messages about conditions for the commencement ceremony, please text "TASSEL" to 80077. You will receive up to 10 messages pertaining to the ceremony, and regular rates and conditions apply, based on your carrier agreement. This is a no-reply text messaging system. Recipients will not receive a response if they reply directly to these messages. For help, please contact ustalumniweb@stthomas.edu.

No tickets are needed for this graduation ceremony unless the rain plan is implemented. See "Rain Plan" information.

The university does not provide wheelchairs. Fairview Home Medical Equipment, (651) 632-9800, rents wheelchairs. The cost is $27/week. It does not rent by the day.

Wheelchairs also can be rented from Dahl Medical Supply, (612) 334-3159, which rents for $30 for 1-3 days. Mention the University of St. Thomas Commencement to Dahl Medical Supply to receive a discount.