Commencement Ceremony

Commencement Ceremony: Day-Of Guide

Purdue Northwest will host an outdoor Commencement ceremony at 12:00 P.M. (noon) on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at the Hammond campus for Spring 2024 graduates.

Inclement Weather Date: Sunday, May 5, 2024

Location

Purdue University Northwest – Hammond Campus

173rd Street North Parking Lot

Hammond, IN 46323

General Information for Graduates and Their Guests

The ceremony will last approximately 2 1/2 hours. Participants will not be permitted to leave the commencement venue until the ceremony is concluded.

Parking

Graduates and guests may park in the 169th Street lot and adjacent parking garage, which are accessible from both 169th Street and Wicker Avenue.

Additional Information

Strollers must be checked at the entry gate of the venue and will not be allowed into the seating area. Do not bring backpacks or other large bags. Small purses are permitted. The University Police will inspect all bags.

Balloons, horns or other loud noisemakers are not allowed in the Commencement venue.

Guests may bring a sealed plastic bottled water or other non-alcoholic beverage, as no concessions will be available on site. Alcohol is prohibited.

Limited mobility seating will be available in the venue for individuals requiring special accommodations and one additional guest. All other guests must utilize general seating. Please see any staff member in a gold robe for assistance on the day of the commencement ceremony. All specially seated guests must have an admission ticket supplied by the candidate.

A sign language interpreter will be provided for those with hearing impairments.

Camera and video equipment are allowed as long as they do not distract other guests. Tripods are not allowed in the Commencement venue. An independent professional photographer will take pictures of each graduate as they receive their degree. Photos will be available for purchase a few weeks following Commencement.

https://www.pnw.edu/commencement/commencement-live/

Conferring of Degrees

The order of commencement exercises will be as follows:

• Academic Procession – Candidates for Graduation, Faculty, and Platform Party
• Address to the Candidates
• Conferring of Degrees
• Recessional –  Platform Party, Faculty, and Graduates

CONFERRING OF MASTER’S DEGREES AND DISTRIBUTION OF DIPLOMAS

Master’s candidates will have their degrees conferred while standing at their seats. When the signal is given, you will follow your marshal to the stage. As you come to the stage-right lectern, the presenter marshal will call your name. Proceed across the stage to receive your diploma. When you return to your seat, please be seated.

CONFERRING OF UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES

Undergraduate candidates will be presented to the Board of Trustees by school. The dean for each college will call for their baccalaureate candidates to stand. Once candidates in all colleges have been presented, degrees are conferred.

DISTRIBUTION OF UNDERGRADUATE DIPLOMAS

The presenter marshal will call the graduates to come forward as he asks the marshals to escort them to the platform to receive their diplomas. The marshals will lead the graduates, by college, from the seating area in single-file procession order to the stage. When you come to the stage-right lectern on stage, hand your reader card to the presenter marshal. Once your name is called, you will proceed across the stage and receive your diploma. When you return to your seat, please be seated.

CONCLUSION OF CEREMONY

When all diplomas have been awarded and the graduates are back in their seats, representatives of the PNW Alumni Community and the senior class will speak. There will be a recessional for the platform party and faculty, followed by the graduates.

Have Questions?

Contact the Office of the Registrar.

(219) 989-2334 graduation@pnw.edu

To ensure proper assistance, please provide your name, telephone number and email address when leaving a voicemail message.

https://www.pnw.edu/commencement/commencement-ceremony-day-of-guide/