Information for Seniors
Dates and Deadlines
| Deadlines | Task |
|---|---|
| March 27 | Last day to order caps and gowns for pick up at the Grad Fair on campus (free shipping) |
| April 29 & 30 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | Grad Fair and cap & gown pick up |
| May 1 | The Graduation Application is due to registrar |
| May 21 | Last day to order your cap and gown for shipping to a personal residence ($17.95 shipping fee) |
| June 5 | Last day to submit the name pronunciation form for Commencement |
| June 11 | 2 p.m. | Commencement Rehearsal |
| June 11 | after rehearsal | Senior Photo and Picnic after rehearsal |
| June 11 | Last day to complete the First Destination Survey (updatable through mid-December) |
| June 14 | Last day to fill out the Graduation Foto contact information form |
| June 14 | 9:30 a.m. | Seniors meet in Dalton Theatre before the Ceremony |
| June 14 | 10 a.m. | Commencement Ceremony |
Jump ahead to:
Rehearsal & Ceremony
Commencement Rehearsal
Required
Date & Time: Thursday, June 11 | 2 p.m.
Location: Dalton Theatre
Seniors are required to attend Commencement rehearsal in Dalton Theatre on Thursday, June 11 at 2 p.m. Rehearsal starts promptly at 2 p.m. so please arrive early! Casual attire is suggested. Pertinent information is covered at this time, as well as a review and rehearsal of an intricate senior line-up. Please make every effort to attend. Rehearsal will start inside of Dalton Theatre and end on the Quad. Please be prepared for any kind of weather.
If a student needs to be excused from this rehearsal, please contact the Office of Alumni Engagement at alumni@kzoo.edu.
Before Commencement Rehearsal – Snacks and Stoles (Private Event)
Before Commencement Rehearsal, the Office of Intercultural Student Life will have a small private event to give out Commencement stoles for certain student groups. The event will take place on Thursday, June 12 at 12 p.m. at the Intercultural Center.
The stoles are for the following:
First-Generation College Students, LGBTQ+ Students, Latinx Students, Mexican Students, Black and African American Students (Kente Cloths), South Asian Students (Multicultural Lotus) and Asian American/Pacific Islander Students.
After Commencement Rehearsal – Senior Photo and Picnic
There will be a senior photo taken on the Quad and a senior picnic (sponsored by OSI) on the patio of Dewing Hall after Commencement rehearsal.
Commencement Ceremony
Absence from Commencement
Plan ahead!
All seniors are expected to participate in the Commencement Ceremony. If you are unable to attend the ceremony, the Office of the Registrar must be informed as soon as possible at regist@kzoo.edu. The line-up is configured by everyone’s participation, so it is very important to inform the registrar of your absence. If we don’t hear from you we are assuming you will be at the ceremony and included in the line-up.
Commencement Ceremony
Senior Line-Up Before the Ceremony
Date & Time: Sunday, June 14 | no later than 9:30 a.m.
Location: Meet Inside Dalton Theatre
Requirement: Dressed in cap and gown
General Details for Families
Date & Time: Sunday, June 14 | 10 a.m.
Location: Quadrangle
Note: Takes place outside in all weather, but will send communication about delay or alternate plans by 8 a.m.
Other Details of Note
- Length of Ceremony & Guest List – The ceremony will last approximately two hours and thirty minutes and it will take place outside rain or shine! There is no limit to the number of guests you can invite to campus and there are no rain tickets.
- Weather Preparedness & Alerts– Please make sure you and your family are prepared for any kind of weather! In the event of heavy rain showers or severe weather (thunder/lightning observed or anticipated), the commencement ceremony may be delayed by no more than two hours. Communication about a delay or alternate plans would be sent via K Alert, social media and email no later than 8 a.m. on Sunday, June 14.
- Livestream – If a family member cannot attend the ceremony in-person, it will be livestreamed.
- Schedule of Events for Commencement Weekend: Please visit the schedule of events page to view the schedule for Saturday, June 13-Sunday, June 14 which will include the senior music program, the senior awards program, departmental receptions and baccalaureate. Specific event times and locations will be added as events are confirmed.
Questions About Ceremony Accommodations
Please visit the accessibility information page or contact the Office of Alumni Engagement at alumni@kzoo.edu.
Caps, Gowns and Photos
Caps & Gowns
Ordering
Plan ahead!
All caps and gowns need to be preordered online! Seniors can choose to have caps and gowns shipped to a personal residence or shipped to campus for pick up at the Grad Fair.
Important Caps and Gowns Deadlines:
- Friday, March 27 – Last day to order caps and gowns for Grad Fair pick up on campus. Free shipping!
- Thursday, May 21 – Last day to order caps and gowns to be shipped to a personal residence. $17.95 shipping!
Pick Up – Grad Fair
Seniors will be able to pick up preordered caps, gowns and tassels at this fair and purchase senior merchandise. This year’s Grad Fair will be held on Wednesday, April 29 and Thursday, April 30 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Hornet Spirit Shop on campus.
The Grad Fair has past, but seniors can still purchase their cap, gown and tassel online or at the bookstore up to Commencement day. Please contact the Kalamazoo College Bookstore at 269.337.7318 if you would like to purchase graduation announcements and other commemorative items.
Seniors can still purchase their cap, gown and tassel online or at the bookstore up to Commencement day.
Information regarding Grad Fair is coming soon…
Please contact the Kalamazoo College Bookstore at 269.337.7318 if you would like to purchase graduation announcements and other commemorative items.
Commencement Photos
Plan ahead!
Opportunity coming soon!
The College has an agreement with Graduation Foto to take a photo of each senior as they accept their diploma and exit the stage. To receive a proof of the photo taken during the ceremony, seniors must fill out the Graduation Foto contact information form.
After Commencement Weekend, graduates will receive information about ordering keepsake prints.
Graduation Application and Name Pronunciation
Application for Graduation
Plan ahead!
Due Date: May 1st
Please complete the Application for Graduation form and submit it to the Office of the Registrar.
You should complete and submit this form if:
- You plan to graduate in March/April, June, December, September.
- You plan to participate in Commencement (walk) in June and expect to have completed at least 27 academic units (exclusive of PE) by the end of the Winter quarter or 30 academic units (exclusive of PE) by Commencement.
The Graduation Application is due by May 1st to allow processing time for commencement. Students who submit graduation applications after this date will have their legal name printed in the commencement program and announced during the ceremony.
Name Pronunciation
Plan ahead!
Due Date: June 5th
The Office of the Provost wants to make sure to get your name right when they read the list of graduates at Commencement. We know this is a big moment for you and your loved ones. Although some students have a common pronunciation, others require special attention.
If your name is one that is pronounced in a special way, please fill out the name pronunciation form to advise us how your name should be pronounced by Friday, June 5.
Tell us where you’re heading…
First Destination Survey through Handshake
Each year, Kalamazoo College’s First Destination Survey helps the College measure the impact of your education and helps current and prospective K students see where recent grads are heading. You may not know what your next step is after Commencement. That’s okay – you’re not alone! Typically grads secure their first destination within six months after completing their degree, and the survey can always be updated once you are settled. The survey is available and failure to complete it by Thursday, June 11 may impact your ability to graduate or receive your diploma. The CCPD services don’t ever expire and the staff is here to help you even after graduation.
The survey will be available closer to Commencement and failure to complete this survey may impact your ability to graduate or receive your diploma.