2025 Winter Semester Commencement

May 10, 2025

Timing will be announced closer to commencement.

Tickets

Tickets are required to enter the Ryder Center. All tickets are general seating tickets, with seats being available on a first-come, first-serve basis. More ticket information, as well as registration information will become available closer to commencement.

Parking/Entrances

Location: Ryder Center, 7400 Bay Rd, University Center, MI 48710

Free parking is available all around campus on a first-come, first-serve basis. The parking lots closest to Ryder Center are lot E, lot D, lot C, and lot K. Parking lot R is reserved for guests with accessibility seating. A map of campus with parking information can be found HERE.

Graduates: All graduates will enter through the west fieldhouse entrance. From Lot E, follow the sidewalk against the fieldhouse until it ends. Here, graduates will show their student IDs to check in and head behind the stage of the Ryder Center to prepare for the ceremony.

Google maps screenshot showing what door graduates enter for commencement

Guests: Guests will enter through the main ramp at the Ryder Center's entrance. Guests with accessibility seats will enter through the fitness center doors from lot R. All bags will be checked at both entrances, and volunteers and signs will guide guests to their seats.

Google maps screenshot showing what door guests enter for commencement

Photos

A professional photographer will take portraits as each graduate crosses the stage. For more information on ordering prints, plaques, or specialty gifts, go to http://gradimages.com. You will be under no obligation to purchase. For questions about your photos, contact Grad Images at 800-261-2576 or ecc.giservice@gradimages.net. Pre-register for graduation ceremony photos HERE before the ceremony and get a 20% off coupon for your entire order.

Please advise your guests that pictures may not be taken from any area of the arena's floor during the ceremony. Ask them not to cross the arena between the seating sections during the processional, the ceremony, or the recessional. Guests may take pictures only while remaining in their seats.

Diploma

Graduates will be handed their diploma cover at the commencement ceremony. Their official diploma will be mailed to them after the Registrar's Office finishes the graduate's final degree audit and verifies that all requirements have been met. If a student's requirements have not been met, they will notify the student and move their anticipated graduation date to the next cycle. Sometimes this process can take a couple of months to complete. Learn more about this HERE.

I need to change the address I submitted on my graduation application. How do I do that?

Please contact the Registrar's Office at registrar@svsu.edu with the new address.

We will only mail the diplomas to the address listed on the application, if you need to change it after you submitted the application please email us ASAP.

Can I have any name on the diploma, even if it is not my legal name?

Yes, how you fill out the graduation application is how we will print your name on your diploma.

A diploma is not a legal document, unlike a transcript.

Can I reorder my diploma and a diploma cover replacement?

Yes, you can. Please fill out the Diploma/Cover Replacement Form (163KB) .

What is an eDiploma?

This is an optional service for our Saginaw Valley State University graduates.

Your eDiploma is a Signed and Certified PDF of your original paper diploma used for easy diploma verification purposes.

*Please note, before you can order an eDiploma, all financial obligations must be paid and all holds removed from your account.

Order your eDiploma HERE.

What is the cost of an eDiploma, and how soon do I receive it?

SVSU's eDiploma costs $8.50* (per degree) per order.

Your eDiploma is available to order approximately 6-8 weeks following your graduation date. You will receive your eDiploma within minutes of your official order.

*Please note, before you can order an eDiploma, all financial obligations must be paid and all holds removed from your account.

Order your eDiploma HERE.

Day of Commencement

Doors open 90 minutes before each ceremony begins. All guests need a ticket to attend graduation. Graduates will need to check in with their SVSU Student ID as they enter the arena, and then they will head behind the stage to collect their name cards and prepare for the procession to begin.

NOTE: We highly encourage you to leave all bags in your vehicles. There will be a bag check for all graduates and guests as they enter the arena.