Commencement
During your time as a student at CWRU, you may want to invite family members to visit you. If a visa is required to visit the United States for a short-term visit (see https://www.dhs.gov/visa-waiver-program for a list of countries that are eligible for a visa waiver), visitors should apply for a B-2 visa at a U.S. consular post in their home country. For more information please visit the Visa Office
If you have additional questions, please contact the International Student Services team via email at visa@case.edu, or stop by Crawford Hall room 215 for appointments or Crawford Hall room 320 for walk-in services.
All diplomas issued by Case Western Reserve University are 11 inches x 14 inches in size. A variety of diploma frames are available for purchase from the University Bookstore. See the Photos, Gifts + Memorabilia page for more information.
Visit the Commencement Coordinators section of the site. Your commencement coordinator is your school's contact for all commencement information.
Diploma ceremonies typically run between 90 and 120 minutes each. Receptions generally last for a minimum of 2 hours. Receptions are optional, however graduates and their families are encouraged to attend.
Both words, in the strictest sense, refer to the gathering of groups of people. At Case Western Reserve University, convocation is the convening of the university community in which graduates officially have degrees conferred by the president and all hear remarks by a keynote speaker. Graduates do not receive a physical diploma at this ceremony; this is done later at diploma ceremony. Commencement refers to the time period comprised of convocation and many diploma ceremonies.
Convocation this year will be hosted on Wednesday, May 15. The university convocation is open to students, faculty, and staff.
All students are encouraged to attend convocation. All others may participate by watching the livestream.
Please be advised that all bags are subject to search. Only small bags, which fit under the seat, will be permitted inside the Veale Convocation, Recreation and Athletic Center.
Strollers will not be permitted inside the Veale Convocation Center during the Convocation Ceremony or during the Undergraduate Studies Diploma Ceremony. A stroller check will be available near the main entrance.
Absolutely NO BALLOONS are allowed inside any of the commencement venues.
The 2025 commencement ceremonies will be held on Wednesday, May 14 through Sunday, May 18. See the full schedule.
Graduation Application:
All students are required to complete the graduation application in the Student Information System (SIS). Complete instructions are available from the University Registrar. Contact your school’s registrar with specific questions.
Commencement Registration:
All graduating students must register online to indicate whether or not they plan to attend the commencement ceremonies. This is an online form, separate from the SIS application for graduation. Commencement registration for all graduates is open March 3 - April 1. Graduating students can register online beginning March 3, or do so in person at one of the Doctoral Fittings or Grad Fair events.
Students are eligible to participate in May commencement activities if they have completed all degree requirements during that spring semester or the immediately preceding fall semester or summer session, or if they have an appropriate plan to complete their degree requirements in the upcoming summer session or fall semester.
If you are interested in participating in commencement earlier than your expected graduation term, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Studies as soon as possible. If, after review with a dean, it is determined that you have an appropriate plan to graduate in the upcoming summer of fall semester, you will be added to the list of students invited to participate in commencement.
A student may participate in Commencement only once as a bachelor’s degree candidate, though exceptions are sometimes made for students receiving a second bachelor’s degree at least one year after the first.
Tickets
All ceremonies require guests to have tickets and will be provided by the graduate's CWRU individual school. Tickets are free-of-charge; however, there will be a limit of tickets available for each student and if capacity is reached, a lottery will be implemented. Please review School Ceremonies and visit the ceremony in question. Also visit the Safety & Security page for more information on Commencement policy.
Tickets allocation per student for a given ceremony will vary based on venue capacity and the number of graduating students.
No tickets are required for children under age 2. Children must be seated on a lap for the duration of the ceremonies. Please note that no strollers are allowed within the venue - a stroller check will be available for guests upon entrance to the Veale Convocation Center. A small children's play area is available in the Veale Convocation Center, but children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
All facilities are accessible to those with disabilities. When completing registration, it is students should indicate accessibility or special accommodations required for their guests to participate in the ceremony. All venues will have accommodations for those with mobility challenges.
No, students to not need to reserve a ticket for themselves for their ceremony.
GradPass is part of the digital integration within several of the diploma ceremonies. It serves as the student's "ticket" allowing staff on-site to scan the QR code printed on the GradPass to check-in, queue, and enable an automated reading of names during roll-call.
Guest Tickets are what will allow guest access to ticketed ceremonies.
Cap and Gown
Proper academic regalia is required for those graduates who register to participate in any commencement ceremonies. Please visit the Cap + Gown page for more information.
Graduates are permitted to wear cords and stoles conferred and provided by University offices or recognized student organizations that reflect academic honors or participation in particular University programs or activities. Graduates are permitted to embellish their caps, keeping in mind the spirit of the occasion and the parameters of good taste.
Graduates should plan on dressing comfortably without being overly casual or informal. Commencement day involves a great deal of walking. Comfortable shoes are strongly recommended.
The colors on the inside of the hood (blue and gray) indicate that the graduate wearing the hood earned his or her degree from Case Western Reserve University. The colored velvet on the outside of the hood indicates in what discipline the degree was earned.
Bachelor's and master's students may purchase and pick up regalia at the University Bookstore during Grad Fair on March 26 - 27, 2025. Regalia will be available at the bookstore through the end of April.
Doctoral regalia is ordered based on your commencement registration and may be picked up at the University Bookstore during the week prior to commencement.
Academic regalia (cap and gown) is required for all graduates attending the on-campus ceremonies.
Undergraduate and Master's regalia must be ordered online no later than Wednesday, April 23, 2025 in order to be shipped directly to your home. You also have the option of purchasing your regalia at the University Book Store 11434 Uptown Ave, Cleveland, Ohio 44106.
Rental regalia for doctoral students participating in the May 16 - 18 ceremonies must be ordered by Sunday, March 31, 2025.
Doctoral regalia can be purchased but there will be a 9 week lead time between order date and shipping date.
Students may order academic regalia in one of three ways:
Call the University Bookstore at 216.368.2650 or 800.825.2650;
Order online directly from the vendor, Oak Hall Cap & Gown.
Visit the Cap + Gown webpage for additional information.
Miscellaneous
Class rings, formal graduation announcements, diploma frames, and alumni merchandise can be purchased from the University Bookstore. Visit the Gifts + Memorabilia webpage for additional information.
Yes, graduates attending the ceremonies during May 17 - 19 will receive a copy of the commencement program at the event.
The order of ceremony for each event will be posted on the website so viewers may follow along at home.
Note: Latin honors will appear in the program book only, not on the personalized student slides.
The application for graduation is an academic process, housed within SIS. Detailed instructions on Applying to Graduate are available on the University Registrar's website. Registration to attend the commencement ceremony is separate, not associated with SIS.
Individuals attending Case Western Reserve events are expected to be fully vaccinated, including booster if eligible. Masks are not required at this time, but we respect the choices of those who elect to wear them. Please note that masks are required when utilizing campus transportation, including Safe Ride and shuttle services. University leaders continue to monitor pandemic developments and will adjust health protocols as circumstances warrant.