Commencement

Commencement is the capstone event in higher education, celebrating a great deal of academic effort and hard work by both graduates and faculty. Thank you for your investment in the lives of CAS students.

Ceremony

May 25 | 9 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 4 p.m.
Benson Great Hall

There are 3 CAS commencement ceremonies. Graduating students from your department have been assigned to one of these. Check the commencement schedule to confirm which ceremony this is. Full-time faculty members are expected to participate in their department's ceremony unless excused by the acting dean. Adjunct faculty members are encouraged to participate, especially if students from their department are graduating. 

In May you will receive an email containing commencement details and a response form. Faculty members are part of the processional and recessional. You will sit on stage during the ceremony and wear full academic regalia. There is no rehearsal but important ceremony instructions will be given at faculty lineup. You will also receive a copy of the CAS commencement program at that time.

Report to CC311 for faculty lineup 30 minutes before the ceremony start time. Wear your full academic regalia, including cap, gown, and hood. If you are part of the program personnel, report instead to the President's Office for lineup 15 minutes before the ceremony start time. Under the direction of marshals, the graduating class will process into Benson Great Hall first, followed by faculty and then program personnel. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the recessional order is opposite the processional: program personnel recess out first, followed by faculty and then graduates.

Reception

A reception for grads, guests, and faculty will take place in Brushaber Commons after the ceremony. Please go directly to the reception to meet graduates and their guests. Hallway hosts will direct everyone to the reception.

Signs identifying academic departments will be posted throughout the reception area as gathering points for grads, guests, and faculty. Some departments will gather in the Underground, and some will gather in Monson Dining Center. Light refreshments will be available at the reception.

Regalia

All faculty must wear their full regalia at the ceremony, including cap, gown, and hood. If you do not own regalia, you may rent it for commencement through the Campus Store. Contact Brenda Edinger for details. Order must be placed by May 1 to ensure delivery.

Questions?

If you have questions about your role in commencement, please contact Anna Kaihoi at anna-kaihoi@bethel.edu or 651.638.6036.