Commencement is an important ceremony that signifies an achievement in education as you move toward the next step in your career. This year’s ceremony will be held Friday, May 3 at 7 p.m.
All graduates participating in commencement must wear the academic regalia appropriate for their degree status. The regalia will be shipped directly to you. The deadline to order regalia for spring commencement is April 4, 2024. If you are borrowing regalia from a former student, please ensure that you have the correct hood color for your program of study (see how to order regalia link below).
Your diploma will be mailed approximately four weeks after commencement to your permanent address or to the diploma address you have entered in LionPATH.For further diploma details, please visit Diploma Information.
All diplomas include the official University Seal, as well as the signatures of the current President of the Board of Trustees, University President, and Executive Vice President and Provost. The student name is printed on a diploma as it appears in the diploma name field in the "Graduation Status" section of LionPATH.
Graduates must report to the Conference Center Building by 6 p.m. to prepare for the procession. Only graduates may enter the building beforehand; please have your guests go directly to the tent when they arrive on campus. Please bring your regalia with you as there will be robing rooms in the building, but please leave personal belongings elsewhere, as there is no storage for items during the commencement ceremony. Graduates must wear the master’s regalia as outlined by each division. Upon arrival to the Conference Center Building, you will check in at registration and proceed to your assigned robing room. Staff members will be there to assist you with your robe, hand you your nomenclator card and line you up in marching order.
Event The ceremony will start at 7 p.m. with a procession of graduates from the Conference Center Building to the tent. The Commencement Ceremony at Great Valley will take place outside under a large tent. Please dress accordingly. The ceremony should last approximately 90 minutes. Graduates from the full academic year—Summer 2023, Fall 2023, and Spring 2024—and from both Great Valley’s online and on-campus programs—will be in attendance. Each graduate’s name is announced, and each graduate is invited to the stage to have her/his academic achievements acknowledged by the University’s academic leaders.
Reception Immediately following the Ceremony, graduates and guests are invited to join the faculty, staff, and Penn State Great Valley Alumni Society for a festive reception inside the Conference Center Building. Light refreshments will be served, including ice cream from the Penn State Berkey Creamery. The Nittany Lion will also be on hand for photo ops!
