Commencement Tickets (in case of rain)
In the event of rain the day of Commencement, the ceremony will move to the Angela Athletic & Wellness Complex. Tickets will be required with limited seating, and only guests with a rain ticket will be admitted. Each graduate is allotted five tickets for the indoor ceremony and must pick up tickets prior to Commencement weekend. Undergraduate students can pick up tickets during the times below. Graduate students must pick up their tickets at their individual departments.
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 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 rain tickets. Seating is general admission, first come first served.
Each graduate may pick up their five rain tickets, which are assigned a unique barcode, during the times listed below. To receive them, you must bring your student ID to the Moreau Box Office (located in the lobby of O’Laughlin Auditorium). Please note that you may not collect tickets for other graduates.
Also note: Graduate students must pick up their rain tickets from their individual departments. Their tickets will not be at O'Laughlin Auditorium.
Ticket Distribution Times
May 2-6: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m.
May 9-12: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m.
May 13: 10 a.m. to 12 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 box office.
Remember: In the event of inclement weather, only guests with rain 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.
Hooding and Commencement Ceremonies, and Schedule
The academic hood is the symbol of admission to the community of scholars. In each of its forms (bachelors, masters, doctoral) 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. View the entire Hoodings Ceremony schedule.
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 2022 Graduation Stoles and Honor Cords here.
Checklist for Graduates
Before you graduate, here's what both graduate 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 transcripts or receive your diploma.
- Confirm there is no hold on your student account. If there is a hold, contact the Financial Aid Office at finaid@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 2022, August 2022, or December 2022 and who have borrowed Federal Direct Student Loans while enrolled at Saint Mary's, are required by the federal government to complete 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.
- All undergraduates and graduate loan borrowers must complete online exit counseling. Online exit counseling can be completed at studentaid.gov by logging in with the FSA ID.
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The online exit loan counseling must be completed no later than Friday, April 29, 2022.
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On campus group counseling sessions are also required. At these sessions you will receive a print out of your loan history and will learn valuable information about your loan repayment options. These sessions are mandatory.
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 9.
Be Part of the 2022 Commencement Photo Gallery
We're collecting photos and thoughts from you to share on the Commencement website. Check your email inbox for the form, or reach out to smcmarketing@saintmarys.edu for information.
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 13. If you do not order by March 13, 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 April 18 to 20. If you purchased your cap and gown last fall for President Conboy’s inauguration, you can opt to purchase only your hood and tassel.
Attend the 2022 Grad Fair on February 23!
You will be able to:
- Order your cap, gown, and hood and other graduation accessories
- 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’ SMART team
SMC Class Rings, Commencement Announcements, and More
Purchase a class ring, announcements, and more graduation items at the Balfour website.
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!
Email cco@saintmarys.edu to schedule an in-person or virtual meeting, and be sure to complete our Graduate Destination Survey to let us know what you intend to do after you graduate.
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.
Here are a few of the important highlights:
- Information Technology has been examining ways to allow alumnae to retain an e-mail account associated with Saint Mary’s College. Google recently announced changes that may make this no longer feasible. We are not planning to delete your Saint Mary’s student e-mail account until more information is available and a decision is finalized. We will notify members of the Class of 2022 when details about retaining accounts have been determined.
- Your Microsoft Office 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 or a flash drive 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.
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)
Are you interested in helping future Belles discover the power of a Saint Mary’s education? The Saint Mary’s Alumnae Recruitment Team (SMART) consists of more than 1,300 alumnae that serve as a resource for prospective students, their parents, and high school counseling personnel. SMART members are able to share their love for the College, all while helping the Office of Admission to shape the next generation of Saint Mary’s students. Through SMART you have the opportunity to contact prospective students, adopt a high school, represent Saint Mary’s at a college fair and/or admission event, and more. Submit this form to receive more information about the SMART Program following graduation.
Questions? Contact the Office of Admission at smart@saintmarys.edu.