• DIPLOMA DATES: There are three possible diploma dates: December, May, and August
• CEREMONY TO ATTEND: Students will attend the ceremony in the term for which their degree will be posted. Students completing their degree requirements in the fall will attend the December ceremony. Students completing their degree requirements in spring or summer will attend the May ceremony. Graduate Education Proseminar students will receive special registration materials and directions for applying for the ceremony held on campus during Proseminar week in July.
• APPLYING FOR GRADUATION: All students who will complete their requirements in the fall semester must submit the application by Sept. 15 for the December ceremony. All students who will complete their requirements in the spring or summer semester must submit the application by Jan. 15 for the May ceremony. Graduate education Proseminar students graduating during Proseminar will be contacted by the education office and will submit the application when Proseminar materials are due. If your graduation date changes, contact the registrar’s office immediately. There are many implications to not correcting your graduation date, including financial aid issues.
• DEGREE REQUIREMENTS: Review your degree requirements with your advisor prior to the end of the semester to ensure your requirements will be complete at the end of the semester. 
• POSTING OF DEGREES: After the registrar's office does a final check of your requirements to determine completeness, degrees will be posted to your permanent record (transcript) after grades are submitted. Transcripts can be ordered online at any time. Be sure to indicate they are to be held for final grades/degree.
• DIPLOMAS: Diplomas will be processed and mailed six to eight weeks after the final grades are due. A "student copy" transcript is mailed with the diploma. By applying for graduation, you are authorizing the release of the transcript with the diploma.

Students completing the degree requirements during proseminar will need to apply for 2026 summer graduation (not May). Please apply through Student Planning (Self Service) on the "Graduation Overview" tab. Proseminar students will receive communication from the bookstore at a later date than those participating in May commencement.  The names of the candidates on the website are for May commencement.  More information will also be forthcoming from the Education Department regarding Proseminar Commencement which takes place at the end of June.

Honor medallions are a ceremonial piece given to bachelor degree candidates who have applied for graduation by the deadline date and have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.50 as of Sept. 1 for the winter ceremony and Jan. 1 for the spring ceremony (spring and summer graduates.)

The candidate must also have or be projected to have a minimum of 45 letter-graded credits earned at Viterbo University upon degree completion. That is, if the candidate does not have a minimum of 45 credits as of the dates above but the credits earned as of the dates above plus registered credits equal a minimum of 45 credits, the candidate will be given an honor medallion. The student must be registered for credits in the graduation term, no later than Sept. 1 for winter commencement, and March 1 for spring commencement, which includes those completing requirements in the summer. 

Final honors are determined and confirmed after all grades have been issued and credit checks are completed. These honors are noted on the diploma and the transcript. Students are eligible for honors upon degree completion if they have earned the required number of semester hours on a letter-grade basis and have met the required grade point average.

A Countdown to Commencement event is conducted in advance of graduation ceremonies in fall and spring semesters. This event offers a chance to take care of commencement related tasks, including picking up caps, gowns, and honors medallions, getting photographed in graduation regalia for the commencement slide show, ordering graduation announcements, and more.

Those unable to attend Countdown to Commencement should take the following steps:

• Caps, gowns, and honors medallions can be picked up at the campus bookstore. If you are out of the area, call the bookstore at 608-782-4377 to have them mailed to you. Shipping charges will apply.
• Email a photo to Courtney Steinke by April 30 to be included in the commencement slide show (check out this graduation slideshow video for inspiration). Most graduates have photos taken in their graduation regalia, but other photos are acceptable. Nursing graduates, for example, could submit their School of Nursing portraits. Submitted photos  should be high-resolution JPG files that are appropriate for a solemn occasion.
• Customized graduation announcements, invitations, and class rings can be ordered online from Jostens. 

• All graduates are required to wear academic regalia: a cap and gown, along with a hood for master’s and doctoral candidates. Regalia may be picked up at the Countdown to Commencement event or at the bookstore.
   
• The cap should be worn level, with the mortarboard flat (not tilted or pushed back). The crown should rest about one inch above the eyebrows, with the deeper portion of the crown positioned at the back.
   
• Gowns should be pressed and paired with dark shoes. Accessories such as flowers, pins, or jewelry should not be worn on the gown. A simple, modest outfit underneath the gown provides the best appearance. Shirts and ties should complement the gown, and jackets may be left off for comfort. Please do not pin or attach anything to the gown.
   
• The tassel should be worn on the right side before the degree is conferred. At the appropriate moment in the ceremony, the president will direct graduates to move their tassels to the left side.
   
• The Viterbo Alumni Department will host a Quick Station at the commencement venue. Convenience items such as bobby pins, extra tassels, breath mints, and a steamer for last-minute wrinkle removal will be available. (For best results, remove gowns from their packaging well before the ceremony.)

• When you check in at the ceremony, you will be given a reader card by committee members. Carry this with you onto the stage and give to the reader at the first podium.
• Do not carry anything else with you into the arena at the ceremony.
• Do not chew gum.

For May ceremony at La Crosse Center:  Check-in tables will be to the left of the main Second Street entrance. Line up in the south concourse under the sign for your degree. Be in line no later than 12:15 p.m.

For December ceremony at Viterbo University Fine Arts Center: Check-in tables will be on the second floor (use west stairwell and follow signs). Line up in the second floor hallway under the sign for your degree. Be lined up no later than 10:15 a.m.

• Graduates will be led into the main arena by the Faculty Council Chair. Marshals will guide you to fill the rows. Please ensure all chairs are filled. Stand in front of your chair and wait until the music has finished.

• As you are seated, a marshal will provide you with a commencement program.

• A marshal will signal your row when it is time to stand for the presentation of candidates.

• Proceed up the steps on the right side of the stage. Do not wait at the bottom.
   

• Hand your reader card to the reader so your name can be announced.

• Master’s and proseminar students will present your hood to the person hooding you, then turn to face the audience. (Watch this video for details.)

• Move to the table to accept your diploma cover from the president with your left hand and shake their right hand with your right. Pause and smile for your photograph!

• Continue to the Board of Trustees chair for congratulations and a handshake. Then visit the alumni representative to receive your alumni pin and a handshake.

• Exit the stage where a second photograph will be taken.

• A marshal will guide you back to your row.

• Follow marshals’ directions for the recessional. Graduates will be the last group to leave the arena.

• Empire Photography photographers will take photos of each candidate during the ceremony.
• Proofs will be emailed to your Viterbo University email address within 48 hours of the ceremony.
• You also can register other email addresses with Empire Photography.
• Guests may take photographs at any time from their seats.
• The commencement ceremony will be streamed live on Viterbo University's YouTube channel, with a recorded version available there after the ceremony. 

SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS: If you or a guest need special accommodations at the commencement ceremony, contact Alyssa Gostonczik, Accessibility Director, at 608-796-3829 or ada@viterbo.edu.

REGISTRAR'S OFFICE: If your name does not appear on the list of Candidates for Graduation or you have questions about applying for graduation, contact Mary Ehle at 608-796-3183 or maehle@viterbo.edu.

COMMENCEMENT COMMITTEE: If you have additional questions regarding the commencement ceremony or activities surrounding commencement, contact Kori Salaski at 608-796-3185 or kfsalaski@viterbo.edu.