Should you have a change in your plans to attend the Commencement ceremony, please contact the Registrar’s Office at (816) 271-4211 or registrar@missouriwestern.edu.

Please bring your cap, gown, and tassel. Tassels are to be placed on the right side prior to the ceremony. If you forgot your regalia, you may still walk without it.

Honors stoles are picked up during check-in. Cords for athletics, first generation, legacy and military should be picked up from those areas and brought to the ceremony.  International stoles will be handed out during the Multicultural and International Sash Ceremony.

Master’s hoods will be picked up during check-in before the ceremony.

Athletic Sash ~ Student-athletes who have completed their athletic eligibility and/or have remained on the roster at the time of graduation will receive a sash from MWSU SAAC. Students will be notified directly by email if they will receive a sash. Questions can be directed to Greysen Dudley or Madeline Simmons in the Athletic Department at (816) 271-4481. 

Honors Stole ~ Undergraduate students with a current overall GPA of 3.5 or higher will be eligible to pick-up an honor stole during the ceremony check-in process. Questions can be directed to the Registrar’s Office at registrar@missouriwestern.edu.

Legacy Cord ~ Request your free legacy cord from the Missouri Western Alumni Association and Foundation if you have an MWSU graduate in your family (parent, step-parent, or grandparent). Legacy cords are available for undergraduate and graduate students. Order your legacy cord here.. Questions can be directed to the Alumni Association at mwalumni@missouriwestern.edu.

Military Cord ~ MWSU students who are military veterans, current active duty, National Guard, or Reserve service members are eligible to pick-up a military cord honoring their service at Grad Fest. Questions can be directed to the Center for Military & Veterans Services at military@missouriwestern.edu

International and Multicultural Sashes ~ International and Multicultural Graduates (First Generation, Contemporary (Non-Traditional), LatinX, African American, Asian American, Indigenous, LGBTQ+) graduates will be celebrated and sashed during the International and Multicultural Sash Ceremony. Contact the office of Diversity and Inclusion for event details at (816) 271-4150.

Students and guests may park in Lot J.

• 11:00 a.m. Ceremony – graduate check-in and line-up begins at 9:45 a.m.
• 3:00 p.m. Ceremony – graduate check-in and line-up begins at 1:45 p.m.
• Graduates will need to be lined up and ready to participate in the processional by 10:45 a.m. and 2:45 p.m., respectively in the Looney Complex Old Gym.
• To check in, look for the table that is alphabetically designated with the first letter of your last name to pick up your reader’s card.
• If necessary, take your reader’s card to the reader’s table, to ensure the reader knows how to properly pronounce your name.
• There will be a general information table available to answer any additional questions you may have.
• Eligible students graduating with honors will pick up their stoles at check-in.
• Master’s students will pick up their hoods at check-in.
• Proceed to the photographer for your photo with the MWSU backdrop. There are volunteers to help guide your way.

To ensure equitable access to accessible seating for all students and their families during the Spring commencement ceremony, the Accessibility Resource Center (ARC) will permit one accompanying family member access to the accessible seating area along with the individual requiring accessible seating.

This adjustment is necessary to ensure that those genuinely in need of accessible seating receive the needed space and accommodations.

For questions or concerns regarding this adjustment, please contact the ARC at arc@missouriwestern.edu or call (816) 271-4330.

Missouri Western’s Commencement is a formal event that is an expression of the pride that we have for our students’ accomplishments during their time at the university. As a consequence of the formal nature of this ceremony, graduates are expected to maintain a level of decorum throughout the event.

Please note that an email will be sent to Missouri Western student email addresses from a company named Parchment confirming the mailing address. It is important to reply to this email so they can package the diploma and it can arrive via USPS in a timely manner.

More information can be found here.

If you have questions, please contact the Registrar’s Office at registrar@missouriwestern.edu.