Commencement Ceremony Information
In-Person Ceremony Guidelines - Spring 2023
Ceremony - The ceremony will begin promptly at the designated start time. Graduates will file into Gross Memorial Coliseum (GMC) and be seated in their respective rows (listed on your name card). The President, Kansas Board of Regents representative and Provost will provide a welcome and congratulatory remarks, and then the President will confer the degrees of the graduates. When it is your turn to cross the stage, your marshal will direct you to where you line up along the ramp and when to proceed across the stage. The Reader of Names will individually recognize graduates at the ceremony. A photo will be taken as you are hooded (if applicable), with the dean, and with the president. Graduates will exit the stage and be escorted back to their seats for the remainder of the ceremony.
After the ceremony concludes, the president will dismiss the graduates who will immediately exit the building and meet up with their guests outside of GMC. Plan accordingly and prearrange a designated area to meet your guests outside of the building. Graduates will not be allowed to wait for guests inside of the building.
Arrival Time - Graduates need to be lined up in the Cunningham Hall 30-minutes prior to the ceremony start time. Check-in will begin 45 minutes prior to the ceremony start time.
Cap, Gown, and Tassel Pick Up - Graduates should pick up their regalia prior to the ceremony. Regalia pick-up will be located in the Robbins Center (directly across from GMC) on Friday, May 12 and Saturday, May 13 from 8 AM to 11 AM. Students can make alternative arrangements to pick up their regalia at Victor E Apparel and Gift Co. located in the Memorial Union on campus.
Invitations - Invitations can be purchased through Victor E. Apparel and Gift Co.
Academic Dress - Place cap on the head squarely. In addition to appropriate attire, women are requested to wear dark dress shoes, and men to wear white shirts and dark shoes. Please consider that feet and legs below the gown will be visible on stage.
-Associate and Baccalaureate degree candidates wear tassels on the right side of the cap.
-Candidates for Master's and Ed.S., degrees should wear the tassel on the left side of the cap.
Students must wear their regalia into GMC. More information on regalia ordering can be found here.
Hoods, Honors Cords, and Stoles - Hoods will be provided on stage by the Dean of the Graduate School, for all Doctoral, Ed.S., and Master’s Candidates. You will not receive your hood beforehand. Graduates are to keep their caps on during hooding.
Honor Cords - Only graduates who qualify for academic honors are permitted to wear honors cords at the commencement ceremony. Students who qualify for honors will receive their cords with their name cards on the day of the ceremony.
Stoles - Ed.S. graduates will receive their stoles when they receive their name cards the day of the ceremony.
Name Card - The name card is very important, as graduates will give it to the Reader of Names before crossing the stage to be hooded and receiving the diploma cover. Name cards can be picked up on Friday, May 12 and Saturday, May 13 during check-in at Gates 2 and 3 in GMC.
Graduating Student Check-In - Graduates will check-in at Gate 2 or Gate 3. The graduate will enter the area that says "Graduate Entrance Only" and guests will enter the door labeled guest door entrance (located at both gates). The graduate will be directed to either the Registrar’s Office (undergraduate) or the Graduate School (Master's, Ed.S. and DNP) for their name card. After receiving their name card, the graduate will be directed to line up in Cunningham Hall according to the row listed on their name card. Commencement staff will be directing students from GMC to the correct hallways in Cunningham.
Reader of Names - The Reader of Names will be available at a table near the check-in area. Graduates may stop by the table if they would like to provide a phonetic spelling of their name.
Line Up - The graduate will be standing in the hallways until the ceremony begins, so please plan accordingly. Graduates are responsible for all personal items such as keys, cellphones, etc. Graduates will assemble inside Cunningham Hall of GMC, entering Gate 2 or 3 and lining up by major at least 30 minutes prior to the ceremony start time. Master, Education Specialist and DNP candidates will assemble outside of Rooms 143, 144, and 145. Row signs will be posted in the hallways, and University staff will be present if assistance is needed.
Programs - Programs will be distributed to the guests on the second floor of the building. Additional copies will be available in the foyer as graduates exit the building.
Driving Directions to our Campus
- Coming from Highway 183 South: Turn left at 8th Street and go straight (west) to the FHSU campus
- Coming from Highway 183 North (option 1): Turn right at 27th Street, take 27th Street to Hall Street, turn south (left), and go to the FHSU campus.
- Coming from Highway 183 North (option 2): Take Vine St. south to 8th St., turn right and go straight (west) to the FHSU campus.
- Coming from Interstate 70 East or West: Turn south at US 183 Bypass (exit 157) and go straight to the FHSU campus.
- Coming from the Airport: Go west on 183 Bypass to the FHSU entrance near Gross Memorial Coliseum
Maps
Campus
City of Hays
Access vans are available to transport passengers with disabilities who park on campus to and from Gross Memorial Coliseum Gates 2 and 3. After the event, vehicles leaving the parking lot at the north exits will be directed north. Those exiting south will be directed south.
Inclement Weather - In person ceremonies canceled due to inclement weather will not be rescheduled. The virtual ceremonies will be released with all graduates on Saturday, May 13. For times and how to access the ceremony, click here: https://www.fhsu.edu/commencement/.
Only press and official university photographers with passes will be allowed to take photos on the lower level of the building.
Virtual Ceremony Guidelines - Spring 2023
Virtual Ceremonies - All graduates (including those who participated in the in-person ceremonies) who have submitted an apply for program completion form (formerly an intent to graduate) prior to March 24, 2023, will be recognized during the virtual ceremony at the designated times. Recordings of the virtual ceremonies will be archived on the FHSU YouTube channel and the link will be provided on the “Programs and Videos” page of the commencement website.