2024 Fall Semester Commencement
Saturday, December 14, 10:00 AM
Ryder Center, 7400 Bay Rd, University Center, MI 48710
Participating Colleges: College of Arts and Behavioral Science; Carmona College of Business; College of Science, Engineering & Technology
Saturday, December 14, 2:30 PM
Ryder Center, 7400 Bay Rd, University Center, MI 48710
Participating Colleges: College of Education; College of Health and Human Services
Tickets
Each graduate can reserve up to 12 tickets to their ceremony. 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. Children 2 and under do not require a ticket. If you would like more tickets, you can use extra from another graduate. If a guest cannot attend the ceremony, they can watch it live via live stream. If a guest requires accessibility seating, fill out this form to turn their general seating ticket into an accessibility ticket.
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.
Graduates and guests can use the December 2024 Day of Commencement Information (57KB) document to learn everything they need to know.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Yes, you can. Please fill out the Diploma/Cover Replacement Form (163KB) .
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.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Graduation Checklist
Graduates can be sure that they have everything needed to make graduation go smoothly. Download the now to know all of the dates, forms, and information needed from now until walking across the stage on December 14, 2024.
View the May 2024 Commencement Ceremonies
Below are the links to watch both live streams for the May 11th commencement ceremonies!
CONTACT US.
Office of the Registrar
Wickes Hall 151
registrar@svsu.edu
989-964-4085
Alumni Relations
Wickes Hall 160
alumni@svsu.edu
989-964-4196
SVSU Bookstore
Curtiss Hall
bookstore@svsu.edu
989-964-4277