Family & Guest Information
We are excited to welcome you to commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2024!
The 2024 ceremonies will take place indoors in the Anderson Athletic and Recreation Center Fieldhouse on our St. Paul campus. The School of Law ceremony will be held at the Minneapolis Convention Center. All ceremonies will also be live-streamed and recorded.
Find details on the Schedule of Events for your graduate’s ceremony:
- School of Law Commencement: Saturday, May 11, 2024; one ceremony at the Minneapolis Convention Center
- Undergraduate Baccalaureate Commencement: Saturday, May 25, 2024; three ceremonies at 9 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
- Dougherty Family College Commencement: Sunday, May 26, 2024; one ceremony at 3:00 p.m.
- Graduate School Commencement: Sunday, May 26, 2024; two ceremonies at 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Commencement is a very exciting time for both the graduates and their families and guests; we are eager to celebrate with you!
Planning for Commencement
Out of Town Visitors
Plan hotel accommodations for out-of-town family and guests. Find information on Accommodations with rates for St. Thomas students and guests.
Plan to explore additional sites and Minnesota attractions during your time in the Twin Cities. Read a short overview of local highlights or browse the Explore Minnesota website for more details.
Out of Town Visitors
Out of Town Visitors
Plan hotel accommodations for out-of-town family and guests. Find information on Accommodations with rates for St. Thomas students and guests.
Plan to explore additional sites and Minnesota attractions during your time in the Twin Cities. Read a short overview of local highlights or browse the Explore Minnesota website for more details.
The Day of Commencement
Do not bring items into the fieldhouse that might detract from the dignity of the ceremony, or take any action that interferes with the ceremony. Unacceptable behavior behavior includes, but is not limited to:
- Picture-taking near or on the stage by the graduates, family members or friends. A professional photographer is hired by the university to provide high quality images as the graduate receives their diploma. Proofs will be sent to you in the week following the ceremony. However, there is no obligation to purchase.
- The stage is for students only and approved faculty and staff. No children, infants, or guests are allowed on the stage at any time.
- Balloons, beach balls,and noisemakers are prohibited at all ceremonies.
- Alcohol is not to be brought to and/or consumed at the ceremony.
- St. Thomas is a tobacco-free campus and smoking, or vaping, is not permitted.
- Strollers are not permitted within the fieldhouse due to limited space. There will be a stroller corral inside the Anderson Athletic and Recreation Center Fieldhouse where guests can leave strollers during the ceremony. Ushers will direct guests to the stroller corral. The corral will be supervised during the ceremony. However, St. Thomas cannot take any responsibility for lost or damaged strollers.
The University of St. Thomas is located at 2115 Summit Ave. Saint Paul, MN 55105. Get details on directions to campus and parking at commencement.
In addition, be sure to check your route to campus for any road construction or crashes that may cause delays.
The Commencement Ceremony
As noted earlier, commencement ceremonies will be held indoors.
Seating is available for commencement ceremonies in the Anderson Athletics and Recreation Complex. Ushers will be seating all guests as they arrive.
Strollers are not permitted within the fieldhouse. There will be a stroller corral inside the Anderson Athletic and Recreation Fieldhouse where guests can leave strollers during the ceremony. Ushers will direct guests to the stroller corral. The corrals will be supervised during the ceremony. However, St. Thomas cannot take any responsibility for lost or damaged strollers.
Picture-taking by graduates, family members, or friends on or near the stage is not permitted. A professional photographer has been retained by the university to provide high quality images as the graduate receives their diploma. Proofs will be sent a week after the ceremony. There is no obligation to purchase.
Students will be seated and called to cross the stage within their designated college or school and will not be called in alphabetical order. Please listen attentively as students are called to receive their degrees. A video board will allow you to have a clear view of your student crossing the stage from your seat.
Graduates who are not able to attend in person and register to participate virtually, will still be represented at their designated ceremony. Watch carefully for your graduate’s announcement so you can celebrate their special moment.
There will be several photo opportunities on the lower quad for graduates and guests to take photos. We understand and honor your desire to commemorate this occasion with photos, hugs, and greeting fellow graduates and families.
Please note: After each ceremony, guests and graduates will remain in their designated areas until each group is ushered separately out of the facilities. Guests and graduates will not be allowed to co-mingle in the fieldhouse following the ceremonies for pictures. Instead, our event staff will guide all parties to the lower quad separately to celebrate this wonderful day.

Watch Live Stream Off-Campus
Coming in May: The commencement ceremony will be available as a live stream via the St. Thomas website for family and friends not able to attend the ceremony. A recording of the ceremony will be available later on the website.
All programs offered by the University of St. Thomas shall be readily accessible to individuals with disabilities. For details, read about accessibility as it relates to commencement, or call (651) 962-6315.