Commencement FAQs

If you have a question that is not addressed here, please email commencement@millersville.edu.

  • In which college do I belong?

    Undergraduates are invited to participate in the ceremony based on the college associated with their major, not the degree.

    https://www.millersville.edu/academics/colleges/ 

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  • How many guest tickets will I be eligible for?

    Graduating students do not need a ticket to attend commencement.  All guests over the age of three years old wanting to enter Pucillo Gymnasium will need to present a ticket.

    Please watch your MU email for communication from officeoftheprovost@millersville.edu by the end of October (for December Commencement), by the end of March (for May Commencement), or approximately 1 week after your graduation application has been approved. 

    The first email to all eligible graduates will ask you to register for commencement by completing a form electronically that will ask you several questions including how many tickets (up to 4) that you want and how many “additional tickets” you would want, if room allows us to issue additional tickets.

    One other thing to consider is we offer an on-campus viewing site for the livestream in the Winter Center for Visual and Performing Arts at 60 W. Cottage Avenue. This is an accessible, climate-controlled venue and tickets are not been required.

    We hope you find this information helpful in your graduation celebration planning.  We look forward to celebrating with you, your family, and friends!

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  • When will I get my degree?

    Your degree is the credential of your program of study:

    • BSE-Bachelor of Science in Education
    • BA-Bachelor of Arts
    • BDES- Bachelor of Design
    • BSN-Bachelor of Science in Nursing, etc.

    Your degree is conferred when all requirements have been met, and this is tracked on your degree audit. When all requirements have green checkmarks and your degree audit states that 100% of requirements have been met, the Office of the Registrar will confer your degree. Degrees are generally processed two weeks after the end of the term (the week after grades are processed). You will see your degree listed in MAX and on a transcript.

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  • When will I get my diploma?

    A diploma is the ceremonial document showing your earned credential. When all your requirements are met and your degree is conferred, a diploma will be prepared and mailed to you.

     

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  • Do I have to attend a Commencement ceremony to get my degree or diploma?

    No. Neither degree conferral nor diploma delivery require attendance at a commencement ceremony.

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  • Am I still charged a $30 degree fee if I’m not planning on attending the commencement ceremony?

    Yes.  The $30 degree fee is charged to cover the vendor’s pricing of processing, printing, and mailing of your diploma.  This is only charged to students that graduate from MU.  It does not go towards the commencement ceremony expenses.

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  • I listed one address on my graduation application, but now I’m at a different address. How will my diploma get to me?

    Please email the registrar’s office if your post-graduation address has changed. We cannot guarantee that the United States Post Office will forward your diploma. Even if you do not remember the address you listed on your graduation application, please email registrar@millersville.edu with a current address if you think there could be any issues with receiving your diploma.

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  • How can I verify that I have earned my degree without a diploma?

    The official record of your academic record is your transcript, where all degrees, concentrations and honors are listed. You can order official transcripts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week online on the Millersville University website: https://www.millersville.edu/registrar/gradesandrecords/transcripts.php

    If a potential employer would like to verify your degree, our resource is the National Student Clearinghouse: https://secure.studentclearinghouse.org/vs/Index

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  • Can I order my cap and gown?
    Yes. Commencement regalia can be ordered through the University Store and can be shipped to you or will be available for pick up at the University Store during business hours.  
     
    STUDENT REGALIA - Orders can be made year-round regardless of whether you are graduating in December or May.  You will be notified by email when your order has shipped or is ready for pick up at the University Store. 
     
    FACULTY REGALIA - Deadline to order for Winter ceremony is TBA.
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  • How do I wear my cap and gown?

    Graduates who are participating in the ceremony are required to wear the appropriate regalia which is available for purchase from the University Store. Below are links to watch based on your degree to prepare to arrive for the ceremony.

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  • Why has the undergraduate regalia been changed, and it doesn’t include a hood?

    There is an Inter-Collegiate Code that sets out a detailed uniform scheme of academic regalia that states that it is tradition in Academia for the bachelor’s gown to be worn without a hood.  In receiving a master’s degree at MU, there is actually a “hooding” ceremony that takes place where the hood is put on the graduate by the graduate coordinator of the program. The removal of the hood from the undergraduate regalia is a 41% cost saving measure to a student by reducing the fee by $28.00.  For these reasons, after careful consideration, President Wubah and his Cabinet decided to remove the hood from the undergraduate regalia.

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  • Am I allowed to purchase or wear stoles and cords to wear with my graduation gown?

    The academic regalia for undergraduate students consists of a gown, cap, and tassel.  “Cords distinguish those students who have earned Departmental Honors, University Honors, and/or who have graduated from the University’s Honors College. Graduates may wear as many cords as they qualify for. The colors, and the academic achievement they represent, are as follows: white, cum laude; silver, magna cum laude; gold, summa cum laude; purple, University Honors College; and red, Departmental Honors.”

    There are organizations on campus that have been approved by the President’s Cabinet in the past that have a history of distributing stoles to their members (SGA, First Generation, etc.).  It is not approved for academic departments to distribute stoles to their students.

    You are welcome to decorate your cap (in a 2-dimension fashion) with something that represents you, your department, degree, or college.

    For further information regarding stoles and cords, please reference the Millersville University approved stoles and cords under the Academic Regalia section of the Commencement webpage.

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  • Why don’t the undergraduate students process into the ceremony with the graduate students?

    The formal walk into the gymnasium as the ceremony begins is called a processional.

    Prior undergraduate classes have given university administration positive feedback regarding the removal of undergraduate procession. Previous classes have communicated since eliminating the processional, it allows them to be able to sit with their friends for the duration of the ceremony. It also enables the graduate to inform their families of their exact location on the floor so guests can sit nearby in the bleachers. Parents of recent graduates have also provided feedback that they appreciated their child not processing because it is optimal for picture taking of their child with their friends throughout the ceremony. 

    The graduate students (Doctoral & Master's degrees) will participate in the processional.  At the appropriate time of the ceremony, the graduate student is escorted to the stage by their graduate coordinators and advisors.

    All participants in the ceremony will walk in the recessional after the ceremony concludes with the platform party, faculty, and all graduates.  

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