Graduation and Commencement Ceremony

Prepare for Commencement

photo of graduates at commencement

On this page:

Apply to Graduate

All students must apply to graduate to have a degree conferred, even if they do not plan to attend a commencement ceremony.  Students should apply for graduation during the semester before their final semester.  Visit the Apply for Graduation webpage to learn more about applying to graduate and related deadlines.
 

Apply to Walk in a Commencement Ceremony

To attend the commencement ceremony, Dayton campus students must indicate that they are participating in the Graduation Application in WINGS Express. Students may update their intention to walk or not up to five weeks before the commencement ceremony. Lake Campus students will receive additional information about their commencement ceremony after applying for graduation.
 

Commencement Ceremony Information

Note: Lake Campus students can find their commencement ceremony information here. 

Commencement is an exciting time for family and friends to gather and celebrate the accomplishments of the graduating class. The Dayton campus holds commencement ceremonies twice a year in the Nutter Center. Ceremonies are in December for summer and fall degree candidates and in April/May for spring degree candidates. There are two ceremonies each time, one for undergraduate students and one for graduate students.  

Students may attend the ceremony that corresponds with their graduation term. Ceremony dates/times for the summer and fall 2024 graduates are:

  • Dayton Campus Graduate Students: Friday, December 13 at 7:00 p.m.
  • Dayton Campus Undergraduate Students: Saturday, December 14 at 10:00 a.m.

Admission tickets are not required, but we ask graduates to please limit their number of guests to no more than 14 people so we can accommodate everyone. Seating at the Nutter Center will be first-come, first-served. Doors will open 90 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony.

Graduating students, please note: To attend the commencement ceremony, you must indicate in your Graduation Application in WINGS Express that you will be participating. Your status to walk at graduation can be updated and/or changed up to 5 weeks prior to the commencement ceremony. Students who wish to walk are required to walk at the commencement ceremony in which they graduate. International students or students traveling abroad their final semester may request to postpone commencement participation to the immediate following ceremony. This request can be made 7 weeks prior to the commencement ceremony date. 
 

Photos

We would love a photo of YOU in your graduation apparel or Wright State gear! A montage of pictures received from our graduates will be prepared and shared on our website, social media, etc.

Please submit one photo no later than December 2, 2024.
 

International Letter of Invitation

International students who wish to invite members of their family to the graduation ceremony may request a "letter of invitation." Usually, this letter is used by the family to secure visas for entry into the United States. Please plan ahead. Students should encourage their families to begin the visa process as soon as graduation is anticipated. 

If you are an international student on a visa, you should contact the University Center for International Education office at askucie@wright.edu to secure a letter of invitation for your family members. If you are not on a visa and are in the Graduate School, please send an email to wsugrad@wright.edu. If you are an undergraduate student, you should contact the dean's office for your college for a letter of invitation. In all cases, please be prepared to provide the full names of those to be invited, the familial relationship, and one embassy address for all names. Multiple letters cannot be provided. It is the responsibility of the recipient of the letter to process the invitation appropriately with the proper government officials. 
 

Academic Attire

Candidates for graduation are required to wear the appropriate academic attire (cap, gown, and hood, if applicable) to participate in the ceremony. The academic robe is different for each of the awards presented—undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate. The hoods or tassels represent the college, school, or major field in which the student is receiving the degree. Following are the color designations for each college, school, or discipline:

Tassel Color Designations

  • Doctoral Candidates: Old Gold
  • Master's Students: Black
  • Boonshoft School of Medicine, Public Health undergrad only: Salmon
  • College of Engineering and Computer Science: Orange
  • College of Health, Education, and Human Services: Apricot (Nursing majors only) and Light Blue (all other majors)
  • College of Liberal Arts: White
  • College of Science and Mathematics: Bright Gold
  • Raj Soin College of Business: Drab

Hood Color Designations (Doctoral)

  • Ph.D. and Psy.D.:Royal Blue
  • Ed.D.: Light Blue
  • M.D.: Kelly Green

Hood Color Designations (Master's)

  • Boonshoft School of Medicine Public Health: Salmon
  • Boonshoft School of Medicine Pharmacology: Olive Green
  • College of Engineering and Computer Science: Orange
  • College of Health, Education, and Human Services: Apricot (Nursing majors only) and Light Blue (all other majors)
  • College of Liberal Arts: White
  • College of Science and Mathematics: Bright Gold
  • Raj Soin College of Business: Drab

You should wear the color (and gown) of the highest level degree you are receiving. If they are of equal ranking (i.e. two bachelor's degrees), wear the color of the group with whom you are seated. You may not wear more than one tassel. 

For Students:

Cap, gown, and hood, if applicable, can be purchased on campus in the University bookstore or online here: Order Graduation Regalia. Undergraduate students should order their cap and gown (comes together) and their correct tassel color designated by college. Graduate students should order their cap and gown (comes together), their tassel by degree, and their hood. Hood colors are determined by college. 

For Faculty: (This is Fall 2024 information.)

Orders can be placed at herffjones.com/faculty.

You will need to enter the following information:
Customer #: 34001378000
Order #: 5293838

For more information please contact the University Bookstore at 937-775-5600.

Graduating with Honors

Latin Honors

Undergraduate students with outstanding academic records are recognized at commencement. Latin Honors are based on the achievement of high grades. 

Three Distinctions are noted:

  • Summa Cum Laude indicates a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.90
  • Magna Cum Laude indicates a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.70
  • Cum Laude indicates a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.50

Undergraduate students who have earned these distinctions wear white cords in recognition of their achievements and have their level of distinction noted by their name in the printed program. The above information applies to undergraduate students only. Latin Honors do not apply to graduate students.

Latin Honor cords for the 2024 Fall Commencement will be available beginning Monday, November 25, in the Student Union Administrative Office (210 Student Union). A limited number of cords will be available on the day of commencement in McLin Gym. 

Requirements to Attain Latin Honors

Latin Honors are based on meeting the minimum honors grade point average requirements for work attempted at Wright State University and for all college, work attempted as of the end of the term in which the student graduates (that is, by the day on which term grades are due). To be eligible for academic honors at graduation, students must have earned at least 30 semester hours at Wright State University. Please keep in mind that transfer credits from other colleges and universities are also used to calculate the grade point average in determining Latin Honors.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the printed program with respect to degrees awarded and honors conferred. The honors indicated in the program are based upon the student’s grade point average at the end of the semester preceding the semester of graduation. The appearance of a name in the list of degree candidates is not to be regarded as conclusive since final grades are not submitted until after commencement. The student’s permanent academic record (transcript) is the official record.

university Honors Program

Students who have successfully completed one of the curricular tracks in the University Honors Program will receive an Honors medallion. Please contact honors@wright.edu for more information on the medallion. 

Graduation and Commencement Ceremony