Checklist for Graduates
Before you graduate, here's what both graduate students and undergraduate seniors need to know and do to prepare for Commencement.
Clear Holds
If you have a hold on your student account, you will not be able to order your full transcripts or receive your diploma.
- Confirm there is no hold on your student account. If there is a hold, contact Student Accounts at studentaccounts@saintmarys.edu to help you understand which office placed the hold on your account.
- You are responsible for resolving the hold. Because there are different types of holds, once you learn which office placed the hold on your account, contact them directly for more information.
Complete Exit Interview
- Students who are graduating May 2024, August 2024, or December 2024 and who have borrowed Federal Direct Student Loans while enrolled at Saint Mary's, are required by the federal government to complete online exit loan counseling before receiving the diploma from Saint Mary's College. Students who need to complete exit loan counseling will see this requirement under the Financial Aid Requirements section of the portal at https://my.saintmarys.edu/web/financial-aid/awards. This online exit counseling can be completed at https://studentaid.gov/exit-counseling/ by logging in with the FSA ID. The online exit loan counseling must be completed no later than Friday, April 26, 2024.
- On campus group counseling sessions are also required for undergraduates. At these sessions you will receive a print out of your loan history and will learn valuable information about your loan repayment options. The dates and times of these mandatory sessions will be available later in the spring semester and will be posted at https://my.saintmarys.edu/web/financial-aid.
Name Pronunciation
Register your official name with Tracy White in the Academic Advising Office. Leave a recording of you saying your name three times if you are concerned your name might be mispronounced. Please call 574-284-5341 no later than May 10.
Graduation Regalia and Bookstore Hours
The Shaheen Bookstore is the regalia resource for Saint Mary's graduates. The regalia package includes your cap, gown, hood, and tassel, and is yours to keep. It cannot be returned. Online ordering is available through March 29. If you do not order by March 29, the bookstore cannot guarantee attire in your size. You can choose to ship it to the bookstore (which includes free shipping) or ship to your home (shipping fees apply). Regalia distribution will occur May 1-3, from 9am-5pm.
Attend the 2024 Grad Fair on March 19 in Rice Commons (11:30 am-5:30 pm)!
You will be able to
- Order regalia
- Learn more about Senior Week
- Buy a class ring or have your ring cleaned by Balfour
- Learn about the Alumnae Association
- Explore graduate programs at Saint Mary’s
- Visit with IT and review computing after ResNet
- Contribute to the Class Gift Campaign
- Register your official name with Academic Affairs
- Connect with Career Crossings
- Visit with the Admissions’ S.M.A.R.T. team
- Talk with Dress for Success
SMC Class Rings, Commencement announcements and More
Purchase a class ring, announcements, and more graduation items at the Balfour website.
Computing After ResNet
Congratulations on your upcoming graduation from Saint Mary’s College! ResNet would like to provide you with some helpful information as you transition from life as a Saint Mary’s student to that of a college graduate.
Our “Computing After ResNet” guide addresses popular questions regarding e-mail accounts, network drives, Microsoft Campus Agreement software, virus protection software, and how to get technical support after you have left campus.
http://www.saintmarys.edu/resnet/computingafterresnet.html
Here are a few of the important highlights:
- Information Technology has been allowing alumnae to retain their saintmarys.edu student e-mail accounts following graduation. This is an offering Saint Mary’s is currently able to provide to our graduates, but it could change at any time if Google alters their licensing agreement. We will notify members of the Class of 2024 if changes become necessary.
- We recommend that you use Google Takeout to export a copy of your files from Google Drive and Google Photos. The Class of 2024 should be prepared for upcoming changes that will likely limit access to these specific Google Workspace offerings in the future.
- Your Microsoft 365 for Students license (which includes Word, PowerPoint, and Excel) will automatically expire immediately after graduation. At expiration, the software will enter a reduced-functionality mode (files can be viewed but it will not be possible to edit or create new files) and the OneDrive associated with your Saint Mary’s account will no longer be accessible.
- Please take the time to save the files stored on your personal network drive (H:) to your computer’s hard drive, flash drive, or personal cloud storage before you leave campus.
- If you installed the Saint Mary’s College-provided Bitdefender security software on your personal computer, you may continue to use it after graduation.
Career Crossings Office
Reach out as you are navigating your post-Saint Mary’s plans! Career Crossings can assist you with job searching, applying to graduate schools, discerning post-grad service and “gap year” programs, resumes and cover letters, interviewing, and networking with alums. You can also find additional resources on the Career Crossings section on the portal. We are here for you as you make the journey to graduation and beyond…Career Crossings provides LIFETIME services for all grads!
Schedule an appointment with us on Handshake (click Career Center and Schedule Appointment) and be sure to complete our Graduate Destination Survey to let us know what you intend to do after you graduate.
Alumnae Relations
Staying connected to Saint Mary’s is easy when you are involved with a club, or get together with other Belles in your area! Take a look at our amazing list of Alumnae Clubs and Contacts around the country! If you don’t see something for your area, please email us at alumnae@saintmarys.edu.
SMART (Saint Mary’s Alumnae Recruitment Team)
We know that your passion for Saint Mary’s will not end at Commencement on Le Mans Green. Are you interested in helping high school students discover and experience the power of a Saint Mary’s education? The Saint Mary’s Alumnae Recruitment Team (SMART) program consists of over 1,350 alumnae that serve as a resource for prospective students, their parents, and high school counselors. SMART members have the opportunity to share their love for the College, all while helping the Office of Admission shape the next generation of Saint Mary’s students. Through the program, you may have the opportunity to represent Saint Mary’s at college fairs and/or admission events, adopt a high school, contact prospective students, and more. To join SMART, submit this interest form. You'll receive more information from us following graduation!
Questions? Contact SMART Coordinator, Georgiana Mejia, at smart@saintmarys.edu.
Hooding Ceremonies and Schedule
The academic hood is the symbol of admission to the community of scholars. In each of its forms (bachelor, master, doctor) it symbolizes a level of academic achievement and is appropriately worn only by those who have reached that level. It is part of the official regalia (including cap and gown) that all Saint Mary’s students wear at Commencement events.
At Saint Mary's, hoods are formally presented by the department or program in which a student has completed the major program of study during a departmental Hooding Ceremony. At these ceremonies, special departmental awards and other student recognitions are also bestowed.
Please see the full listing of Departmental Hooding Ceremonies here.
Graduation Stoles and Honor Cords
Approved stoles given by Saint Mary’s organizations are permitted at Commencement Mass, in addition to Saint Mary’s medals and honor cords. For the ceremony, medals, honor cords, and one approved graduation stole may be worn. If you have more than one, you will need to choose which one to wear. Graduates should not decorate their caps.
View the complete list of 2024 Graduation Stoles and Honor Cords here.
Be Part of the 2024 Commencement Photo Gallery
We're collecting photos and thoughts from you to share on the Commencement website. Please take a moment to fill out this brief questionnaire and upload a photo then be sure to SHARE this page with other members of the graduating class. We would really love it if 100% are included!
Submit your photo to the gallery here.
Indoor Ceremony Ticket Instructions
In the event of inclement weather the day of Commencement, the ceremony will move to Angela Athletic & Wellness Complex. Tickets will be required with limited seating. Only guests with a rain ticket will be admitted. Each graduate is allotted five tickets for the indoor ceremony and must pick up their tickets prior to Commencement weekend.
If the decision is made to move the ceremony inside, it will be announced by 9 a.m. to the campus community via email, social media, and the College website. Note that the ceremony will be livestreamed if it is held outdoors or indoors. A simulcast will be shown on campus in O’Laughlin Auditorium, Moreau Center for the Arts, starting at 12 p.m. for those who do not have tickets to the indoor ceremony. Seating is general admission, first come first served.
Each graduate may pick up their five tickets during the times listed below. To receive them, you must bring your student ID to the Office of Campus Experience & Events, located on the 1st floor of Haggar Hall. Each graduate will receive their five tickets, which have been assigned a unique barcode. Please note that you may not collect tickets for other graduates.
Graduate students should pick up their tickets from their program director.
Distribution times are:
April 23-26 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 2-5 p.m.
April 29-May 3 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 2-5 p.m.
May 6-10 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 2-5 p.m..
May 14 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 2-5 p.m.
May 16 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 2-5 p.m.
Hold these tickets and distribute them to your five guests in advance of the ceremony. Lost tickets cannot be replaced. If you do not need all five rain tickets, please return them to the Office of Campus Experience & Events.
Remember: in the event of inclement weather, only guests with tickets will be admitted to Angela. Graduates do not need tickets to attend the indoor ceremony. Tickets are not necessary if the ceremony is outdoors.