Each year Oakland University holds commencement ceremonies in April/May and December to honor its graduates. The Spring ceremony honors our winter and summer I graduates at Athletic O'Rena. The December ceremony honors our summer II and fall graduates in the Oakland University Athletic O'rena.
Each ceremony is an opportunity for the university to pay special tribute to its graduates for the outstanding efforts they have shown in earning their degree and for graduates to share the excitement and importance of their academic accomplishments with faculty, fellow graduates, family and friends.
Application for degree
To be eligible to graduate, you must complete an
Application for Degree online before the posted deadline.
If your name is not on the graduation list, check with the Academic Records Office at (248) 370-3460 or (248) 370-4055 to make sure you have completed an Application for Degree. For questions concerning academic status, contact your
academic adviser.
Caps, gowns, announcements and rings
Commencement attire is required for participation in commencement ceremonies. Graduates may purchase their caps, gowns, personalized announcements and rings through the
OU Bookstore, (248) 370-2404, in the lower level of the Oakland Center. Appropriate dress attire is required for graduates. Casual clothing such as jeans, T-shirts, and tennis shoes, etc. are not allowed.
Honors and awards
Participating undergraduates eligible to receive university honors (GPA 3.6 and above) and/or school, departmental or conciliar honors will receive their honor cords to wear during the ceremony at the registration table when they receive their name card on the day of the ceremony.
Students receiving recognition for a university or special award should contact the Office of the Dean for their college or school for instruction on special seating arrangements.
University and departmental or school honor cords are given to eligible graduates at the registration table on the day of commencement. There is no charge. Honor societies are responsible for the distribution of their cords, therefore, contact your organization for any cost. Students inducted into the Golden Key International Honor Society can purchase their Golden Key honor cords for $10.00 from the Center for Student Activities Window, 49 Oakland Center or call 248-370-4332.
Students inducted into the Golden Key International Honor Society can purchase Golden Key honor cords for $10 from the
Center for Student Activities Window. For more information, please contact Jean Ann Miller at (248) 370-4332.
Diplomas
Diploma covers are handed out during the ceremony. Diplomas are mailed to graduates approximately 10-12 weeks after graduation. Diplomas will not be issued to any degree candidates who have outstanding financial obligations. For questions regarding diplomas, call the Academic Records office at (248) 370-3460.
Photographs
Professional photographers will photograph graduates as they receive their diplomas. The company will contact graduates independently with information on purchasing photos. For questions regarding graduation photographs contact Grad Images at (800) 261-2576.
Commencement DVD
DVD's of each ceremony may be purchased from the Instructional Technology Center (ITC) . All orders must be prepaid. For more information, contact ITC at (248) 370-2460. Click here to order your commencement DVD.
Live stream
Family and friends who are unable to attend the commencement will be able to view the ceremonies on this website as they occur. A link will be posted on this site's home page. Videos of the ceremonies will also be available to view from our commencement website after the ceremony.
Parking
To make commencement a more enjoyable experience, graduates and their guests should review the campus map.
Inclement weather
In case of inclement weather, please call the university at (248) 370-2000 or tune in to WJR or WWJ radio or watch FOX2, WDIV-TV or WXYZ-TV for information on cancellation of ceremonies.
Accommodations
Commencement facilities are handicap accessible. Upon arrival, the staff at the facility will direct guests to the seating area.
Non-degree recipients
Oakland University main commencement exercises are for students completing degrees. If you have earned a non-degree seeking certificate (ie. master's certificate or continuing education certificate), you will not be participating in commencement.
Participating before finishing degree requirements
Students who are completing their coursework in the semester following the ceremony must contact the Office of the Dean for their school or college to request to participate. There is a form to request to participate in the commencement ceremony early.
- Undergraduate Request to Participate in Commencement Ceremony
- Graduate Request to Participate in Commencement Ceremony
Students who have requested confidential status
To comply with FERPA regulations, your name will not be listed in the commencement program. If you wish to have your name added to the program, you must inform the Academic Records Office in 100 O'Dowd Hall, Window #5. Students who have requested privacy under FERPA should keep in mind that Oakland University will not be able to confirm your attendance at OU when employers call to verify degrees. To remove privacy from your record, you must go to the Office of the Registrar (101 O'Dowd Hall) with photo identification.
Tickets
GUEST TICKETS ARE REQUIRED AND WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE AT THE GRADUATION FAIR. Please attend the
Graduation Fair on
Saturday, November 2, 2013 and Tuesday, November 5, 2013 at the Barnes and Noble Bookstore at Oakland University.
December 14, 2013
9:00 a.m. - College of Arts and Sciences, Bachelor of Integrative Studies and School of Engineering and Computer Science
1:00 p.m. - All Doctoral and Masters cemermony
5:00 p.m. - Schools of Business Administration, Education and Human Services, Health Sciences and Nursing
Ceremonies
Winter (April) and Summer I (June) graduates participate in the Spring commencement ceremony held in April at the Athletic O'Rena. Summer II (August) and Fall (December) graduates participate in the December commencement ceremony held in the Athletic O'rena.
Upon arrival, graduates check in at the registration table where they pick up their name card, which has their degree title and honors, if any. The card is handed to the reader who then reads all the printed information on the card as the graduate crosses the stage.
Each ceremony lasts approximately 1-1/2 to 2 hours. Graduates are asked to stay for the entire ceremony and will be directed by the marshal to process out of the area.
For information specific to a ceremony, please click the appropriate date:
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