Graduate Information

11:00 a.m Ceremony – graduate check-in and lineup begins at 9:45 a.m.

 

Graduates will need to be lined up and ready to participate in the processional
by 10:45 a.m. in the Looney Complex Old Gymnasium

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

Sashes and Medallions for International, Multicultural, Contemporary, and First-Generation Graduates ~ International (F1 status), Multicultural (LatinX, African American, Asian American, Indigenous, LGBTQ+), Contemporary (Non-Traditional), and First-Generation graduates will be honored during the Sash and Medallion Ceremony: Celebrating Global, Multicultural, Contemporary, and First-Generation Students. Graduates in these categories will be presented with a sash or medallion as part of the celebration. Please note that no sashes or medallions will be given out before the Sash/Medallion Ceremony. If you are unable to attend, you may pick up your sash or medallion on-site at graduation check-in. For more information, please contact The Center for Student Involvement at 816-271-4150 or email cdi@missouriwestern.edu.

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.
  • Graduates will need to be lined up and ready to participate in the processional by 10:45 a.m. 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 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.

  • Mobile phones should remain off or on silent throughout the entire ceremony.
  • Graduates are expected to refrain from distracting and disruptive behavior while seated and while approaching, crossing, and leaving the platform. While we realize that you may feel like dancing in celebration, we ask that you be respectful of the other graduates and guests and refrain from doing so.
  • Graduates are expected to return to their seats after receiving their diplomas and to remain seated for the remainder of the ceremony.

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.

Cap and gown pickup AND GRAD FEST ’24

Grad Fest

The Grad Fest event will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 19, 2024 in the Leah Spratt Hall Atrium.

This celebration is a wonderful opportunity for graduating Griffons to not only pick up your cap and gown, but it’s also the perfect time to connect with campus resources, ask questions about Commencement, complete your outcome survey, and get a pic at the photo booth.

Beginning on November 21, 2024, caps and gowns may be picked up at the Barnes & Noble Bookstore during regular business hours on the first floor of the Hearnes Center.

Master’s graduates will pick up their hoods at the check-in table prior to the Commencement ceremony on December 14, 2024.

GradFestImageEdited
Griffon Statue with a legacy gold cord around neck

Commencement Announcements

Order your commencement announcements, college rings and more here.

Cords, Stoles and Sashes sponsored by Missouri Western State University

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

Sashes and Medallions for International, Multicultural, Contemporary, and First-Generation Graduates ~ International (F1 status), Multicultural (LatinX, African American, Asian American, Indigenous, LGBTQ+), Contemporary (Non-Traditional), and First-Generation graduates will be honored during the Sash and Medallion Ceremony: Celebrating Global, Multicultural, Contemporary, and First-Generation Students. Graduates in these categories will be presented with a sash or medallion as part of the celebration. Please note that no sashes or medallions will be given out before the Sash/Medallion Ceremony. If you are unable to attend, you may pick up your sash or medallion on-site at graduation check-in. For more information, please contact The Center for Student Involvement at 816-271-4150 or email cdi@missouriwestern.edu.

CEREMONY CHECK-IN

11:00 a.m. Ceremony – graduate check-in and line-up begins at 9:45 a.m.

Graduates will need to be lined up and ready to participate in the processional by 10:45 a.m in the Looney Complex Old Gymnasium.

  • There will be no place to leave your personal belongings. Whatever you carry to the check-in tables will have to be carried with you during the ceremony. Missouri Western is not liable for lost or stolen items.
  • 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.
  • Cell phones should be silenced prior to processing to the arena.
Ceremony
graduate walking across the stage after receiving his diploma

undergraduate process

  • Your row will be released by a marshal (in the yellow gowns) and you will be led to the stage.
  • When you reach the ramp, hand your reader’s card to the reader and wait until your name is read.
  • Proceed to the President, where you will receive your diploma cover, pause for the photographer, cross the stage and pause again for the photographer as you exit the stage.
  • After all candidates have returned to their seats and after closing remarks, the Alumni Association representative will direct the moving of the tassels. At this point, graduates move their tassel from the right to the left side.
  • All graduates will be released by rows following the ceremony.

Master’s hooding process

  • Your row will be released by a marshal (in the yellow gowns) and you will be led to the stage.
  • As you leave your seat to walk to the stage, carry your hood with you; drape it over your left forearm.
  • As you near the bottom of the ramp, the faculty member who will hood you will lead you onto the stage.
  • If you will be hooded by a faculty member who will perform multiple hoodings, that faculty member will remain on the stage after the first student in the “group” has been hooded. After your name is read (whether you be the second, third, fourth, etc., student to be hooded by the same faculty member), proceed to the stage and join the faculty member. Hand your hood to the faculty member once you reach the stage.
  • Hand your reader’s card to the reader and wait until your name is read, then proceed to the stage.
  • After you have been formally hooded, proceed to the President, from whom you will receive your diploma cover. Pause for the photographer to take a picture.
  • Continue across the stage, then pause again for the photographer as you exit the stage.
  • After all candidates have returned to their seats and after closing remarks, the Alumni Association representative will direct the moving of the tassels. Tassels should not be moved during the course of the formal hooding OR while you are on the stage.
  • All graduates will be released by rows following the ceremony.
Student at commencement

photo and video services

GRADIMAGES

Graduates will have two photos taken by professional photographers from GRADIMAGES; one as the graduate crosses the stage, and a second off the stage while holding their diploma cover. GRADIMAGES will then send proofs via a graduate’s university email. You can preregister early and save by clicking the image below.


A banner that says: Pre-register and receive 20% off your photos.

For further information, please contact GRADIMAGES at (850) 907-2740 or email.

StageClip

We are making available a free, personalized video clip of your magic moment on stage which you can share with your friends, family and loved ones. Your clip will be ready to view a few days after the ceremony. You will receive an email to your university account from StageClip Graduations with an individualized link to a video clip of you receiving your diploma.

Archived footage

Click this link to view the video of the Commencement ceremony on Missouri Western’s Youtube channel.

important links

Tell us your plans after graduation! As a public institution, we must report what our graduates are doing after graduation as a group. Your personal information is not shared. As an incentive, you will be entered into a chance to win a Missouri Western Diploma Frame. This is sponsored by Alumni Relations and the Career Development Center. https://missouriwestern.joinhandshake.com/edu

If you are still seeking a full-time job and need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the Career Development Center by emailing careercenter@missouriwestern.edu or calling

(816) 271-4292, or dropping by Blum Union 210. We are happy to help you find a job after you graduate.

Exit Exams

For information about the exit exam you must complete before Commencement, please visit this website.

Final Grades

Click here for information on when final grades are due.

Billing Information

Visit the website of the Business Office for information on paying any outstanding balances you may owe.

mortarboard reading all that i am or hope to be i owe to those who believed in me
graduate rubbing the griffon's head for good luck

Traditions

Clock Tower Legend

When walking under the Glenn E. Marion memorial clock tower, students always walk around the seal. Legend has it that if a student steps on the seal, he or she won’t graduate. After Commencement, new graduates walk under the clock tower, and over the seal, their first steps as official college graduates.

Griffon For Luck

When prospective students visit campus, they rub the Griffon’s head for luck as they leave for their first campus tour. And, at Commencement, students leave the University as they came in, rubbing the Griffon’s head one final time for luck as they embark on their next adventure.

Ring The Bell

After a Griffon victory, teams and coaches ring in the win. The tradition started with the big bell at Spratt Stadium, but now bells are rung at the MWSU Field House and Spring Sports Complex as well.