Apply to Graduate

Students must apply to graduate in order to participate in the Commencement ceremony. Applying as soon as possible will ensure that you will receive detailed event information!

If you plan to graduate this semester, please apply to graduate and register to attend Commencement by March 30!

Why does my Commencement date appear differently in Banner or on my application?

The date listed on a student’s Banner account and/or application is based on their ‘graduation’ date which is always the Saturday after finals. ‘Commencement’ is the actual ceremony. The dates and times noted on the Commencement website's home page are accurate and indicate when an eligible student will walk with their College.

Wait! There's one more important step! Once you submit your application to graduate, you will receive an invitation from [email protected] to register for the Commencement ceremony! This will ensure we have a seat for you as well as provide you the opportunity to record your name for correct pronunciation.

Register to Attend Commencement before March 30

You must register to attend Commencement by March 30.  Watch for an invitation in your GVSU inbox in late February!

When you register by March 30, this not only ensures that you'll have a seat, but you'll have the opportunity to record the pronunciation of your name for its announcement by a professional reader as you cross the stage, and your name will also be included on the 2023 Commencement t-shirts, available for purchase as a memento at Van Andel Arena on Commencement day! Let us know you're attending!

Regalia - Order by April 7!

Purchase your regalia before April 7 by visiting the Laker Store website.

Have questions about how to wear your regalia or Master's hood? Watch this tutorial courtesy of the Laker Store.

Order your regalia  How to wear your regalia

Guests

We will not be requiring guest tickets. 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 this page on the day of the event.

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

Learn About Our Variety of Graduation Celebrations