Graduates report to: Armory (812 3rd Street)

Graduate Line Up: 

IMPORTANT: Bring name card (mailed) 

Card is used to check in and announce your name on stage

Report Time: 45 min before ceremony

• 1. Go to photo station to check in (need name card)

  2. Line up by number (located on name card)

  3. Missing your name card? Go to Info Desk upon arrival

Processional: Begins 15 min before ceremony

Arrive late? Go to Elliott Hall

Wear: Cap & gown (tassel on right); Hood (Master's/Doctoral); Comfortable shoes (stairs)

After Ceremony:

Reunite with guests at fountain (behind Elliott Hall)

View Commencement Day Map

Guests Entrance: 

Elliott Hall of Music at 712 3rd Street

West Lafayette, IN

• Doors open 45 min before ceremony

• Entrance on back of building

• NO tickets required

• Bags checks will be performed

Parking for Commencement:

Allow extra time for traffic due to multiple ceremonies. 

Assigned parking garages (to reduce congestion):

Parking garage and ceremony time assignments will be emailed to all registered graduates. There is no parking fee for Saturday at your assigned garage.

Do not enter Elliott Hall of Music in your GPS—there is no parking at Elliott. Use the address for your assigned garage to avoid delays when arriving and exiting.

Parking Garages:

University Street Garage

201 North University Street

West Lafayette, IN 47906

Northwestern Avenue Garage

504 Northwestern Avenue

West Lafayette, IN 47906

View walking directions from your parking garage (COMING SOON)

Golf cart shuttles run continuously between all assigned garages and Elliott Hall/Armory for anyone who needs assistance — no reservations needed.

Ceremony Length: Approximately 1.5 hours

Number of Guests: No guest limit for May 2026

Tickets: NOT required (General admission seating)

Arrival:

• Doors open 45 min before ceremony starts

• Graduates report to Armory for line up

• Guests go to to Elliott Hall for seating

Ceremony Order of Events:

• Processional (15 min before ceremony start time)

• Chancellor's Welcome

• National Anthem

• Keynote Speaker

• Conferral of Degrees

• Graduate Recognition

  • Stage crossing: Name called & slide shown

  • View schedule for ceremony times and name order (late arrivals will be out of order)

  • See graduate seating map in program; line up # on name card

    • Line-up #100 - 499 (cross on left)

    • Line-up #500 - 899 (cross on right)

    • Two lines cross at once—#100 (left) and #500 (right) go first

• Ceremonial Tassel Turning

• Boiler Up Tradition

• Recessional (Meet guests at fountain behind Elliott Hall)

Graduates Needing Accommodations

Graduates unable to use stairs or in need of accommodations, email graduation@purdueglobal.edu

Accessible Guest Seating

Accessible seating is available — no reservations needed

Note: Elliott Hall does not have elevators

View Accessibility Parking & Accommodations

Cap, Gown, GPA Recognition Cord

• Order at Herff Jones

• Allow 6 wks for delivery - Late orders call Herff Jones: 800-837-4235 (Rush fees apply)

• Cap, gowns & cords are not available onsite

• View GPA recognition cord criteria

COMMENCEMENT (Saturday)

Graduates:

• Wear cap, gown (and hood if applicable)

• Light weight business attire under gown

  • Gowns get warm

• Comfortable shoes (low heels) due to stairs

• Master's and doctoral level hoods: View wearing instructions

Guests

• Business professional

BLACK & GOLD CELEBRATION (Friday)

• Business casual

• Bag checks performed upon entry

• No strollers permitted inside the theater

• No large bags or helium balloons

• No outside food or drink, unless for medical reasons (Bottled water is permitted)

How many guests can I bring? Do they need tickets?

There is no guest limit, and tickets are not required for May 2026.

What is my name card? What if I don't receive it?

Your name card is mailed 2 weeks before commencement and is required to cross the stage. It includes:

• Your first and last name (as officially listed in your student profile)

• Mlitary status (if provided during registration)

• A barcode to display your graduate slide while on stage

Missing your card? Visit the Info Desk in the Armory (staging room) 45 min before your ceremony.

Are honors or concentrations announced with my name?

No, honors and degree concentration are not announced or shown on the slide but appear on the mailed diploma. 

• Honors are noted in the digital program

• Degree and honors appear on your mailed diploma

• Honors groups are recognized collectively during the ceremony

What should I wear under my gown?

Lightweight business attire and comfortable shoes. Gowns get warm and there is walking and many stairs.

When will I receive my diploma?

Diplomas are mailed 6 weeks after completing your final class and all program requirements are confirmed. Diploma are not distributed at the ceremony.

Questions? Email registrar@purdueglobal.edu or 866-522-7747.

How can guests watch from home?

Public live stream links will be posted on Showroom.PurdueGlobal.edu (no login required).

Recordings are available on Purdue Global's YouTube.

How do I know when my name will be called? 

In-person attendees have their name called in the ceremony they attend. See schedule for ceremony times and name order.

• Line up #100–499 cross on the left

• Line up #500–899 cross on the right.

• Two lines cross at once—#100 (left) and #500 (right) go first

Arriving late or attending your non-assigned ceremony will change your order.

Can I walk with a family member who is also graduating?

Yes! Email graduation@purdueglobal.edu to request it and copy the other Purdue Global graduate.

Only Purdue Global graduates may enter the staging room, processional, graduate seating, or cross the stage. For disability accommodations, email graduation@purdueglobal.edu.

I registered for in-person but can’t attend. Will my name be called?

No. Your name is only announced in the ceremony you register for:

• Attend in person → name announced on stage

• Register for virtual → name announced in virtual ceremony

Which ceremony can I walk in? Can I walk later?

See eligiblity requirements for available ceremony options. 

What are acceptable and non-acceptable items for

Elliott Hall of Music?

Acceptable Items

o Cameras

o Flowers

o Registered service animals

Not Acceptable Items

o Camera bags or tripods

o Balloons

o Beverages or food products, unless there is a medical need

o Noisemakers/poppers/posters

o Wrapped gifts

o Strollers or car seats

o Alcohol/tobacco/vape products

o Emotional support animals

o Weapons

• Ceremony photos are available for purchase 3 days after the ceremony on The Grad Team website.

• Graduates receive an email with the link when photos go live.

• If photos aren’t showing, contact Grad Team Photography.

The Grad Team Special Event Photographers

Website: thegradteam.com/purdueglobal

Phone: 833-469-4723

Email: gradteam@thegradteam.com

Tip: Use a computer or laptop for best experience

Graduates:

• Personal Zoom link emailed one week prior (one login per graduate)

• Turn on your camera to be visible to other graduates in Zoom (optional) 

• Watch the chat for host prompts and special recognition cues

• Hear your name announced as your graduate slide appears (alphabetical by last name)

• Attire: Business casual, black & gold, Purdue Global gear, regalia

• Optional: Add a Purdue Global virtual background (instructions coming soon) 

Guests:

• Public viewing link will be posted on the schedule page

• No login required; guests will not appear on camera

Missed the ceremony? 

• Watch the recording on Purdue Global's Commencement YouTube channel within a week after commencement

• All registered virtual graduates’ names are announced as their slides are shown

Virtual ceremony participants are not required to wear regalia.

Share camera to be seen by other Zoom participants.

(Virtual graduates won't appear in live ceremony.)

Cap Only (for tassel turning)

• Purchase black mortarboard (available online, including Amazon) 

Full Regalia

• Purchase at Herff Jones by March 27

  • Includes gown, cap, custom Purdue Global tassel & zipper pull

  • Hood included with Doctoral, Post-graduate Certificate and Master's regalia

Ceremony Length: approx 60 min

Pre-show videos start 15 minutes prior to ceremony time (See email for assigned time)

Virtual Commencement – Order of Events

Welcome & Opening

• Zoom Host Welcome

• Chancellor's Welcome

• National Anthem

Program Highlights

• Keynote Speaker

• Special Recognition*

• Conferral of Degrees*

• Ceremonial Tassel Turning*

  • Optional: Start tassel on right (black mortarboard or full regalia optional) 

Graduate Recognition

• • Your name is announced as your slide is shown

  • Announced alphabetically by last name (Name order posted March 10)

Closing

• Boiler Up Tradition*

• Zoom Host Congratulations*

*Interactive moments

Watch the Zoom chat for host prompts.

You may turn on your camera to be visible to other Zoom participants.

(Virtual graduates do not appear live in the ceremony broadcast.)

What is a virtual ceremony? Will I be on camera?

• Registered virtual grads are featured with their name and slide

• Virtual Ceremony is in Zoom

• Graduates won’t appear in the live ceremony, but can see fellow graduates in Zoom

• Viewing links:

  • Graduates are emailed a personal Zoom link one week prior

  • Guests use the public viewing link posted on the schedule page

• Recordings posted later on YouTube

• View a past virtual ceremony

How can my guests watch the ceremony?

Guests use the public viewing link posted on the schedule page or watch a recording later on YouTube.

Do I need a cap & gown for virtual ceremony? 

No, but are welcome to wear one. To participate in the tassel-turning, you can purchase a black cap (mortarboard) online, including from Amazon. 

I registered for in-person but can’t attend. Will my name be called?

No. Your name is only announced in the ceremony you register for:

• Attend in person → name announced on stage

• Register for virtual → name announced in virtual ceremony

How do I know when my name will be called? 

Assigned ceremony times will be emailed and posted on the schedule page six weeks before commenceent. Name order details will be linked there.