Important Reminders

For the Commencement Ceremony:

"Hooding the graduate" is a long-standing tradition in the ACU Commencement ceremony. A parent or special person selected by the graduate serves as an escort and during the ceremony places the hood on the graduate. The escort will process in with the graduate and remain seated with the graduate for the duration of the ceremony (up to two and one-half hours). The minimum age to participate in this role is thirteen years of age. Please keep in mind the escort will accompany the graduate on the walk from the Teague Center to Wildcat Stadium (approximately a half-mile walk), so please confirm with them that they can do so.

This brief video will provide an example of the "hooding of the graduate" portion of the Commencement Ceremony.

• Candidates should report to the check-in tables in the lobby of the Teague Special Events Center by the time designated for your ceremony above. You will receive an email prior to rehearsal indicating which line you will be in.
• You should arrive wearing your hat and robe and carrying your hood.  Your escort must be wearing the white robe.
  
• Do not bring other personal items with you to the Teague Center - they will not be secured and you may not carry them with you in the ceremony.
  
• You will have the opportunity to address concerns about the accurate pronunciation of your name.
• If you or your escort will require accommodations due to physical limitations, notify the Office of the Registrar by email at graduation@acu.edu.
  

 

Ceremony Information

1. Dress and Regalia

Men: Suit coats are not required, but ties should be worn. Dark slacks, dark socks, and dark shoes are considered appropriate apparel for academic regalia occasions.

Ladies: Dark clothing (either blouses and skirts or dresses) should be worn under the black robes. Light colors of clothing should be worn under the white robes.

Shoes should have a flat sole for safety on the turf at Wildcat Stadium - do not wear heels.

No flowers are to be worn or carried.

According to traditions of academic regalia, no jewelry or non-academic accessories should be worn on the outside of the robe; no accessories or decor on the cap. The only exceptions are the gold stole worn by Honors Program students, the medallion worn by University Scholar student, the gold braid worn by departmental honors, and the discipline-based Honor regalia. There are no special cords for candidates receiving Latin Honors.

Sunday dress or business casual is the most appropriate attire for guests. 

Purchasing Regalia

If you have not yet picked up and paid for your regalia (your cap, hood, robe and escort robe), you may do so any time between now and August 7 in The Campus Store. The store’s regular hours are currently 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday-Friday. If you still need to place your order for regalia, you may do so through the ACU Marketplace and either pick your order up in the store or have it shipped to you.

Remember that all undergraduate students must have an Escort to participate in the Commencement Ceremony. The Bachelor's degree package includes the white escort gown.

Disposing of Academic Regalia

The regalia you wear in the Commencement ceremonies at ACU is yours to keep or dispose of as you wish.

2. Photography

During the ceremony, each graduate will walk across the stage and receive a ceremonial diploma tube. Your photograph will be taken at this point by a professional photographer from GradTrack Graduation Images. You will receive a free passport-sized digital proof of this photo on an order card within 5-7 days following the ceremony. After the ceremony you may order online at www.gradimages.com; to pre-register please visit www.gradimages.com and click on Pre-Event Registration.

Since this service is provided by the university, all family members and guests are asked to remain in their seats during the entire ceremony. Under no circumstances will anyone other than the professional photographer be allowed on the platform or the field at Wildcat Stadium to take pictures. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

3. Academic Honors Designations in Printed Program

Honors at Commencement are based on a student's GPA on courses taken at ACU. Students must complete at least 64 hours of course work at ACU to qualify to graduate with honors. The GPA thresholds for students who entered ACU in Fall 2006 or later are 3.6 for cum laude, 3.75 for magna cum laude, and 3.9 for summa cum laude.

Honors listed in the graduation program are based on completed, graded hours and current GPA at the time of Commencement. If the final semester's grades alter the student's standing, the correct honor will be noted on the diploma. 

4. Extra or Unusual Noises during Ceremony

Please ask your family members and guests to refrain from bringing air horns or other unusual noise-making instruments into the stadium for use during the ceremony. The ACU Commencement ceremony is not a high school ceremony. Thank you for your cooperation.

5. Recessional

Please ask your family and guests at the ceremony to remain in their seats until the recessional is finished. Guests will be dismissed by section to support social distancing. Please stay in line with your fellow graduates until you have exited the stadium.

6. Wheelchair Accessible Seating

There is wheelchair accessible seating available on the concourse level of Wildcat Stadium. This seating is available on a first come, first served basis.

7. Handicapped Parking 

The parking lot directly south of Wildcat Stadium (located at B3 on the ACU Campus Map) will be reserved for special-needs guests with appropriate vehicle license plates or placards. This lot will be available on a first-come-first-served basis.

8. Commencement Livestream

For family and friends who are unable to attend the ceremony in person, we will be livestreaming both Commencement ceremonies. Here are the links that they can use to join us through ACU's YouTube channel:

• Saturday, August 8, 9 a.m. Commencement Ceremony 
• Saturday, August 8, 8:30 p.m. Commencement Ceremony

 

For further assistance, please call the Registrar's Office at 325-674-2236 or email graduation@acu.edu.