Graduate Information

Students who wish to participate in a Commencement ceremony must have all degree requirements met by the time of the ceremony. Students may monitor degree progress by checking their Academic Requirements Report in GullNet.

Students completing degree requirements in the winter will participate in the May commencement ceremony. Students completing degree requirements in the summer will participate in the December commencement ceremony.

For more information on graduation eligibility, please visit the Office of the Registrar's page.

Student participation in the commencement ceremonies is optional. Should a graduate choose to not participate, it will not impact their graduation status or eligibility. 

If a graduate does not plan to participate in the commencement ceremony, please notify the Commencement Office by submitting a Commencement opt-out form by Wednesday, April 24. 

Each guest must have a ticket for ceremony entry.  Graduating students do not require a ticket. 

Each student will be provided six guest tickets. The number of tickets provided to each student is based on the size of the graduating class and venue capacity.  Tickets will be distributed during cap and gown pickup at the Bookstore April 8 - 11th.  Students who meet the criteria to have their cap and gown mailed to them will also have their tickets mailed to them.

For those seeking additional tickets, if additional tickets become available all graduates will be notified via email as commencement nears. 

No tickets are required for the Graduate Ceremony.

Candidates for graduation must purchase and wear Salisbury University cap and gown (regalia), adhere to the regalia guidelines, and comply with related processes in order to participate in the ceremony. Degree candidates may not wear borrowed regalia.

The cost of regalia is $59.95 for bachelors and $64.95 for masters regalia.

In-person orders for caps and gowns will take place February 19 - 22 at the SU Bookstore.

Online cap and gown ordering is scheduled for February 23 - February 29.

Online ordering of cap and gown is available to students meeting any of the following criteria: 1) studying abroad; 2) enrolled in classes at a satellite campus; 3) interning out of the lower Delmarva region; or 4) enrolled in online classes and not living in the lower Delmarva region.

To order your cap and gown online, please visit the SU Bookstore website. Payment will be due upon order placement.

Cap and Gown pick up is scheduled for April 8-11 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the SU Bookstore.

Students will also have the opportunity to take cap and gown portrait photos at the Cap and Gown Pick-Up Fair at the Bookstore on April 8-11.  Photos will be taken by GradImages. There is no charge for the portrait session, and there is no obligation to purchase a portrait package.

Shipping of cap, gown and guest tickets is available to students meeting any of the following criteria: 1) studying abroad; 2) enrolled in classes at a satellite campus; 3) interning out of the lower Delmarva region; or 4) enrolled in online classes and not living in the lower Delmarva region. Please contact the Bookstore (bookstore@salisbury.edu) for more information.

Commencement is a formal academic occasion and should be viewed as such in dress and demeanor.

The following guidelines are provided to help you prepare for your Commencement ceremony. Graduates choosing not to abide by these guidelines will not be allowed in the Civic Center and may be escorted from the ceremony.

• Regalia may show part of your clothing underneath. Recommended dress is similar to what you would wear to a formal interview.
• Shorts are not permitted.
• Dress shoes are suggested. The stairs/ramps to the stage are steep; please keep this in mind when considering heel height.
• The gown should be mid-calf.
• No jewelry is permitted on or over the gown.
• No flowers are permitted on the academic robe. Flowers may not be carried.
• The mortarboard (academic cap) should be worn with the front point over the forehead below the front hairline, so the flat board is parallel to the floor.
• Undergraduate students earning Latin honors (cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude) wear an honors cord. Latin honors cords are distributed to eligible students with the cap and gown.
• Candidates for the bachelor’s degree enter the auditorium with the tassel on the right, hanging near the right eye. After the degrees are conferred, graduates will be invited to shift the tassel to the left.

Professional photographers will take photos of graduates as diplomas are awarded. Graduates will receive graduation photo information from GradImages (www.gradimages.com). A proof with ordering details will arrive at your permanent address within two to four weeks after commencement.

GradImages will also take cap and gown portrait photos at the Cap and Gown Pick-Up Fair at the Bookstore on April 8-11 . There is no charge for the portrait session, and there is no obligation to purchase a portrait package.

To ensure that each graduate is able to fully participate in commencement ceremonies, graduates with physical disabilities needing assistance should contact the Commencement Office via email (commencement@salisbury.edu) by Wednesday, May 1.

The Salisbury University Alumni Office is acknowledging our legacy families with reserved seating during the spring 2024 commencements. If you have a parent, step-parent, guardian, or grandparent who graduated from Salisbury, you are a legacy student. Please fill out a Legacy Gulls form to reserve seating for your commencement ceremony.

You should arrive at the Civic Center one hour prior to the start of your ceremony to allow ample time to park your vehicle and enter the building. Carpooling is recommended as parking delays are expected. Graduates should NOT bring personal property to graduation. You will not be permitted to carry personal items during the ceremony.

All graduates enter through the Main Entrance - Normandy Arena of the Civic Center to line up for processional one hour prior to the start of the ceremony. As you face the front of the Civic Center, the student entrance is to the left. Graduates do not require a ticket for entrance to the Civic Center.

Problems with caps and gowns can be corrected on the day of the ceremony by SU Bookstore employees at the Civic Center, in Flanders Room No. 1, to the left of the arena entrances.

It is important to know your school or college as it will determine your line-up location. When you enter the Civic Center, look for the colored signs designating your school/college. There will be SU staff located throughout the Civic Center to help direct you. When you arrive at your line-up location, you will need to check-in to get your line-up card. Faculty marshals will be there to guide you every step of the way - line-up, the processional, crossing the stage, returning to your seat, and the recessional.

Graduates are awarded degrees by school or college. Graduates are awarded diplomas individually. Faculty marshals will give graduates a card with your name, degree and Latin honors, if applicable. When it is time to cross the stage, graduates will hand their card to the announcer when at the stage. The name on the card must not be changed for any reason.

All graduates receive a diploma cover at commencement. Diplomas are mailed to your permanent address approximately six weeks after the ceremony to allow SU time to certify you have met all graduation requirements. For questions about your diploma, please contact the Registrar’s Office at 410-543-6150 or registrar@salisbury.edu.

Majors are not listed on Salisbury University diplomas, but they are included on official transcripts.

Students with an outstanding account balance will not receive diplomas or transcripts until the balance is paid in full.; Contact the Cashiers Office (cashiers@salisbury.edu) for more information.

As part of an ongoing effort to ensure a safe and enjoyable event, the following items are prohibited from Commencement ceremonies:

• Air horns, or other noise making devices
• Balloons, banners, flags or signs
• Firearms, explosives, fireworks, sparklers
• Pets

The ceremony will be livestreamed. The broadcast may be viewed on the main Commencement page and will automatically start 10 minutes before the ceremony.