Commencement Information
Ceremony Times
Commencement will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2025, in Hamilton Arena of the Jeanne Knoerle Sports and Recreation Center. Commencement will be celebrated with two ceremonies, one for the campus program and another for Woods Online and graduates programs
The campus ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. with line-up at 9:30 a.m. in the auxiliary gym.
The Woods Online and graduates ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. with line-up at 2:30 p.m. in the auxiliary gym.
The baccalaureate service will be held in the Church of the Immaculate Conception at 1 p.m.
Graduation Gown, Cap, Hood and Tassel
Each student participating in Commencement will need to wear Commencement garb (gown, cap and hood) for Commencement. You do not need to purchase these items; the College has a supply and will loan them to you. Graduate students have the option to purchase their Academic hood. Each student will also receive a tassel, which is theirs to keep. Following Commencement, all borrowed items are to be returned at the concession stand in Knoerle Center.
Doctoral students will rent or purchase Ph.D. regalia, including their gown, hood, and tam.
Mortarboard Hats
Undergraduate and Masters students are allowed to decorate their purchased caps to be worn at the commencement ceremony. Please be considerate and do not block the view of those around you.
Baccalaureate and Commencement Dress Code
- Dark shoes (please wear dress shoes that are comfortable for walking)
- Dress or dress pants – pants should be dark-colored (black, navy or charcoal)
- Flowers and jewelry will not be permitted on the graduation robe
Special Needs Guests
Special needs guests who are in wheelchairs, use crutches and/or walkers, or are hearing impaired, etc. are encouraged to arrive half an hour early. Please be sure to indicate if you have special needs guests on the participation form. If you have already submitted your form, email information about your special needs guests to registrar@smwc.edu
Livestream
For those who cannot attend the event in person, we will have live streams available to watch both ceremonies.
Academic Regalia Policy
GUERIN SCHOLARS PROGRAM
Students who successfully complete the Guerin Scholars program at SMWC will be recognized with a silver medal on a ribbon with the words GUERIN SCHOLAR on one side and the academic seal on the other. The Commencement program will explain the scholars program requirements and list the graduates who have completed this prestigious program.
- Medals will be awarded at the Academic Leadership Banquet and be worn at Commencement
LATIN HONORS
Associate Degree
SMWC will recognize undergraduate associate degree students who have earned a 3.50 With Honors designation with one navy blue honor cord to wear for the Commencement ceremony over their black gowns.
Baccalaureate Degree
SMWC will recognize undergraduate baccalaureate students who have earned Latin Honors with Pomeroy blue honor cords to wear for the Commencement ceremony over their black gowns:
- For 3.50 to 3.74 cum laude honors, students will wear a single Pomeroy blue honor cord
- For 3.75 to 3.89 magna cum laude honors, students will wear a double Pomeroy blue honor cord
- For 3.90 to 4.00 summa cum laude honors, students will wear a triple Pomeroy blue honor cord
Master’s Degree
SMWC will recognize graduate students who have earned a cumulative 3.95 GPA or higher “With Honors” with a triple white honor cord to wear for the Commencement ceremony over their black gowns.
- Distributed at Commencement Rehearsal and Commencement Day
HONORS SOCIETIES
SMWC will allow students to wear stoles for the honors society of which they are members. Currently, the College has an honors society in our Nursing and English programs. The Education students are invited to be members of the Indiana State Education Association (ISEA). Students can purchase whatever they would like as far as honors society “garb.” However, at commencement, students will only be permitted to wear the corresponding honor stoles.
STOLES
If you are an active service member or veteran, the College will provide a stole reflecting the branch you serve in.
If you wish to represent a different country of origin or cultural heritage, country flag stoles will be provided.
Please Note:
- If a student has earned multiple stoles, honor cords and/or medals, it is permissible to wear all of them.
- The stoles, medals and cords will not be worn for the composite (cap and gown) photos.
- Students walking as candidates will be recognized with Latin Honors based on their cumulative GPA earned. This may be subject to change as final grades are earned, and the degree is completed.
- Latin Honors will continue to be recognized on the student’s transcripts and in the Commencement program.
- Students keep medals, cords and stoles. Recipients not in attendance will be issued their diploma and complimentary official transcript via mail.