2024 Winter Semester Commencement

Friday, April 26 and Saturday, April 27 2024

Van Andel Arena
130 W. Fulton, Grand Rapids, MI 49503


Friday, April 26 7 p.m.

Participating Colleges:

College of Education and Community Innovation

Padnos College of Engineering and Computing

Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies

Saturday, April 27 10 a.m.

Participating Colleges:

Seidman College of Business

College of Health Professions

Saturday, April 27 3 p.m.

Participating Colleges:

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Kirkhof College of Nursing

Graduates are assigned to a specific college per their major. If you are unsure of your college, click the button below!


Apply to Graduate

We recommend that students submit an application for graduation during the semester prior to when their degree will be complete. We invite you to apply on the registrar’s website. 

 

Register to Attend Commencement by April 1

Students who have applied to graduate will receive an email invitation to attend the Commencement ceremony. Registering to attend the ceremony by April 1 will also ensure that your name will be professionally recorded to be read when you cross the stage and your name will also be included on the 2024 Commencement t-shirts, available for purchase as a memento.

Tickets

Tickets are not required. However, due to capacity limitations at the venue, we ask that all candidates be mindful of their number of guests in attendance. This will ensure everyone has an enjoyable experience and that there are seats available for all. All seats are general admission, seating is first-come, first-seated and there are no reserved seats. We will live stream the ceremony and provide a live stream link on the homepage on the day of the event.

Regalia - Order by March 30!

Visit the Laker Store website by March 30 to order your cap and gown online for the April ceremony. After March 30, please call or visit the store to inquire about purchasing regalia.

Diploma Covers

Students participating in Commencement will receive a diploma cover at the ceremony. If a student is unable to attend the ceremony and would like a diploma cover, they can contact the Registrar’s Office at [email protected].

Land Acknowledgement

At a significant University event like Commencement, we have an opportunity to offer appreciation to those who were stewards of the land on which our beautiful campus was built, long before most of our ancestors arrived. As an institution committed to diversity, inclusion and equity, Grand Valley recognizes the Three Fires People, who include the Ojibwa, the Odawa, and the Potawatomi, on whose ancestral lands we now live and work.

Read Grand Valley's land acknowledgement


New location downtown, just blocks away from Van Andel Arena!

101 Monroe Center St. NW | Grand Rapids

Stop by during extended hours Commencement weekend:

gvsu Laker Store on Monroe

Friday, April 26

11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

 

 

Saturday, April 27

9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

A group of students celebrating at Commencement.
A group photo taken at GradFest
A graduation cap with the words "Laker for a Lifetime"

Commencement is coordinated by the Division of Student Affairs of Grand Valley State University.



Page last modified March 22, 2024