To process in the Commencement Mass gather in the Dining Commons at 9 a.m. Wear your regalia, but no caps.
Line-Up Procedures for Graduates
The undergraduate commencement ceremony begins at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 2, 2026. This Indianapolis ceremony is for all associate and bachelor’s degree graduates from the Indianapolis campus, Marian University Online, Saint Joseph's College, and accelerated BSN.
If you are a graduating undergraduate student, please arrive in the Dining Commons in Clare Hall by 12:45 p.m. already dressed in your academic regalia (cap/gown).
Look up your number in the line-up list before arriving for line-up. This list will be published and sent to participating graduates prior to commencement.
Come to the check-in table in the Dining Commons to pick up your name reader card and then find your spot in line. Numbered signs will be placed along the walls to help you find your spot.
There will be no rehearsal or verbal instructions prior to the ceremony. You are responsible for reviewing the commencement procedures document and commencement diagram prior to arriving to ensure you understand expectations and procedures
Keep your name reader card at all times until you hand it to the reader immediately before crossing the stage at commencement.
Guest Information
Each graduate walking at the Saturday, May 2 undergraduate commencement is welcome to invite 4 guests into the arena for commencement. Lap children aged 2 and under are not included in the guest limit.
Participating graduates who are walking at commencement will receive their 4 guest tickets to their Marian University student e-mail address within the two weeks prior to the ceremony. Graduates must give a unique ticket to each guest and be careful not to provide the same ticket to multiple guests. Each ticket has a unique scan code and it will only be allowed to scan once into commencement. Guests who present a ticket that has already been scanned will not be able to enter the arena.
Guests may enter the arena beginning 45 minutes before the ceremony start time. Access to the arena will close 15 minutes before the ceremony start time. Guests arriving less than 15 minutes prior to the ceremony start time will not be able to enter the arena and will be directed to the livestream viewing location.
Livestreaming of the ceremony will be available in the Alumni Hall Family Room and accessible to non-ticketed guests as well as being available online at https://marian.edu/livestream.
Commencement Mass (10 a.m.)
The undergraduate commencement ceremony begins at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
Undergraduate faculty members should report to Clare Hall room 128/129 fully dressed in your academic regalia by 1:00 p.m.
The Board of Trustees and platform party should also arrive by 12:30 p.m. in the Private Dining Room and Reading Room.
Staff will assist you with getting into formation and entering the ceremony site.
Personal belongings are your responsibility.
Processional procedure: The commencement marshal will lead the processional, followed by the graduates, the emeriti, faculty, and staff, and then the platform party.
Recessional procedure: The commencement marshal will lead the recessional, followed by the platform party, the emeriti, faculty, and staff, and then the graduates.
Line-Up Procedures for Graduates
The graduate and doctorate commencement ceremony begins at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 3, 2026. This Indianapolis ceremony is for all master's and doctoral degree graduates from the Indianapolis campus.
If you are a graduating master's or doctoral student, please arrive in the Dining Commons in Clare Hall by 9:15 a.m. already dressed in your academic regalia (cap/gown).
Look up your number in the line-up list before arriving for line-up. This list will be published and sent to participating graduates prior to commencement.
Come to the check-in table in the Dining Commons to pick up your name reader card and then find your spot in line. Numbered signs will be placed along the walls to help you find your spot.
There will be no rehearsal or verbal instructions prior to the ceremony. You are responsible for reviewing the commencement procedures document and commencement diagram prior to arriving to ensure you understand expectations and procedures.
Keep your name reader card at all times until you hand it to the reader immediately before crossing the stage at commencement.
Do not bring personal belongings or family members/guests to the line-up site. All guests should go directly to the arena, which will open 45 minutes prior to the ceremony start time and will close 15 minutes prior to the ceremony start time.
The ceremony will be livestreamed at https://marian.edu/livestream.
Line-Up Procedures for Guest Hooders
The graduate and doctorate commencement ceremony begins at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 3, 2026.
If you are a guest hooder for a doctoral degree student, please arrive by 9:15 a.m. and report to Clare Hall room 128/129. Arrive dressed for the ceremony in professional attire or in your academic regalia (gown, hood, cap or tam). Volunteers will help direct you to the appropriate building and rooms upon arrival.
If you are a hooder, please look up your number in the line-up list that will be published and sent prior to commencement.
Your line-up number matches the number assigned to the graduate you are hooding. All hooders sit separately from the graduates in the arena. Floor ushers will assist hooders and graduates by directing rows when to walk to and from the stage for the hooding part of the ceremony.
Do not bring personal belongings or other family members/guests to the hooding line-up site. All other guests should go directly to the arena, which will open 45 minutes prior to the ceremony start time and will close 15 minutes prior to the ceremony start time.
Guest Information
Each graduate walking at the Sunday, May 3 Graduate and MU-COM commencement is welcome to invite 5 guests into the arena for commencement. Additional guests are invited to watch the live stream in Alumni Hall. Lap children aged 2 and under are not included in the guest limit.
Marian University will not issue tickets to graduates for their guests on Sunday, but instead we are asking graduates to lean into the Franciscan Values and respect each other by helping to encourage their family and friends to follow the 5 guest limit within the arena. This gives all graduates the opportunity to have family and friends sit in the arena.
Guests may enter the arena beginning 45 minutes before the ceremony start time. Access to the arena will close 15 minutes before the ceremony start time. Guests arriving less than 15 minutes prior to the ceremony start time will not be able to enter the arena and will be directed to the livestream viewing location.
Livestreaming of the ceremony will be available in the Alumni Hall Family Room and accessible to additional guests as well as being available online at https://marian.edu/livestream.
The graduate and doctorate commencement ceremony begins at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 3, 2026.
Graduate and MU-WCOM faculty members should report to Clare Hall room 128/129 fully dressed in your academic regalia by 9:30 a.m.
The Board of Trustees and platform party should arrive by 9:00 a.m. in the Private Dining Room and Reading Room.
Staff will assist you with getting into formation and entering the ceremony site.
If you are a hooder, please look up your number in the line-up list that will be published and sent prior to commencement.
Personal belongings are your responsibility.
Processional procedure: The commencement marshal will lead the processional, followed by the graduates, the emeriti, faculty, and staff, and then the platform party.
Recessional procedure: The commencement marshal will lead the recessional, followed by the platform party, the emeriti, faculty, and staff, and then the graduates.
Line-Up Procedures for Graduates
The Marian University’s Ancilla College commencement mass ceremony begins at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, May 1, 2026. Please arrive in The Learning Commons by 2:00 p.m. dressed in your academic regalia (cap/gown). Caps do not need to be worn for mass but should be brought for the commencement ceremony. Staff will be present to assist with line-up. Do not bring personal belongings or family members/guests to the line-up site. All guests should go directly to the Chapel or Cana Hall.
Line-Up Procedures for Faculty
The undergraduate commencement ceremony begins at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, May 1, 2026. Undergraduate faculty members, Board of Visitors, Board of Trustees, and platform party should report to Hardesty Room fully dressed in your academic regalia by 2:00 p.m. Staff will assist you with getting into formation and entering the ceremony site. Do not bring personal belongings to Hardesty Room as the room will not be locked during commencement.
Guest Information
Each graduate walking is welcome to invite 5 guests into the Chapel. Lap children aged 2 and under are not included in the guest limit.
Participating graduates can pick up their tickets the week of April 20-22. Tickets can be picked up in room C214 after April 22nd. Tickets will be available in Zirkle Commons from 11-1 each day. Graduates must give a unique ticket to each guest.
Livestreaming of the ceremony will be available in Cana Hall and accessible to non-ticketed guests as well as being available online at https://marian.edu/livestream.
