9:30 a.m. | Doctoral & Master’s Degree Ceremony
1 p.m. | Bachelor’s Degree Ceremony
Admission by ticket only; attendees must be seated 15 minutes prior to each ceremony.
See important commencement details in the accordions below.
SENIOR CELEBRATION
Invitation to follow.
COMMENCEMENT MASS
Saturday, April 27, 2025 at 4 p.m. | St. Joseph Chapel (Motherhouse)All graduates are invited to process for Mass in regalia—please gather in Motherhouse Room 316 by 3:50 p.m. on Mass day. All are invited, but please reserve your seat via the Commencement RSVP Form.
41st ANNUAL STUDENT HONORS & AWARDS CONVOCATION
Thursday, May 1, 2025 at 6 p.m. | Pat Sullivan Center
Graduates, line up at 5:40 p.m. in the Moser Performing Arts Center, Turk Theater. Call 815- 740-3216 or visit Tower Hall, Room S300 for additional information.
LEACH COLLEGE OF NURSING PINNING CEREMONY
Friday, May 2, 2025 at 4:30 p.m. | Pat Sullivan Center
Families are invited.
RADIATION THERAPY PINNING CEREMONY
Friday, May 2, 2025 at 6 p.m. | San Damiano Hall (Donovan Hall, 3rd floor)
Invitation to follow.
Graduates may pick up their caps/gowns and tickets during the following days in the USF Bookstore on the first floor of Tower Hall:
April 21-24 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
April 25 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
April 28-May 2 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
May 3 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Special arrangements for after-hours pick-up may be made by calling the bookstore at 815-740-3394. Number of tickets will be determined following the RSVP deadline, and tickets will be distributed with your cap and gown. Watch for communication from graduationinvite@stfrancis.edu.
Graduates must report to their designated classroom in Tower Hall no later than 45 minutes before their ceremony. A list of assigned rooms will be posted in the Tower Hall lobby.
Each procession will be led by the San Damiano Cross, followed in order by the Grand Marshal, graduates, faculty, administrators, Board of Trustees and platform party.
Visual Image Photography (VIP) will take photos of graduates as they receive their diplomas. VIP will send an email with a direct link to the images approximately two weeks after commencement. If you do not receive an email, you can contact their support team at support@vipis.com or call 262-375-4457. In addition, students and their families are welcome to take pictures anywhere on campus! Suggested photo opportunities include Tower Hall’s main entrance, near the university seal on the second floor of Tower Hall, the Benoit Commons, or near the Grotto on the Quad.
Graduates will receive their diplimas by mail 4-6 weeks after commencement.
Commencement ceremonies will be simulcast in the Sexton Auditorium (Moser Performing Arts Center) for those on campus without tickets to the ceremony. The ceremonies will also be steamed live for those off campus—click the livestream button on this webpage to watch!
Honors designation does not apply for graduate-level students. Final honors will be indicated on the student’s diploma and final transcript. For commencement purposes, graduation honors will be based on qualification at the time of the previous completed semester at USF.
As a new grad, you’re now automatically a member of the USF Alumni Association! If you’re interested in events, networking, career opportunities, mentoring current students, or providing students with internships, the Alumni Office can help. Visit stfrancis.edu/alumni to learn about new and exciting programs and activities designed for you, and be sure to update your alumni profile through the Stay Connected link (the alumni portal). If you have any comments, questions, concerns, ideas, or just want to chat, contact the Alumni Office anytime. Congratulations on your achievement!
The commencement program will be added here in the weeks prior to commencement. We encourage everyone to download the program here prior to the ceremony, or to use the QR code that will be displayed at the ceremony for day-of access. To support the university’s commitment to sustainability, we are limiting the number of print programs to one per family. Thank you!
Persons with disabilities who require assistance should email graduationinvite@stfrancis.edu at least four weeks prior to commencement.
FAQ: What is the difference between “commencement” and “graduation?”
GRADUATION is the academic completion of coursework, earning of the diploma, and the posting of the degree to the transcript.
COMMENCEMENT is the ceremony that celebrates or marks the completion of college work.
