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Information for Doctoral Degree Recipients

Commencement Day Details

Congratulations, it’s time to walk!

Where and When

Please arrive at check-in at least 60 minutes prior to your Commencement Ceremony at the breezeway between the Gooding building and Gooding Auditorium. Note: Latin Honor Cords will be distributed at check-in.

Saturday, May 3, 2025

  • 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. - Graduate check-in
    9:00 a.m. - Ceremony, Swisher Science Green, the main quad
    Jacksonville University LEGACY graduation celebration
    • College of Arts & Sciences
    • Davis College of Business and Technology
    • Linda Berry Stein College of Fine Arts and Humanities


Saturday, May 3, 2025

  • 1:00 p.m. - Ceremony, Swisher Science Green, the main quad
    NROTC Commissioning Ceremony

Saturday, May 3, 2025

  • 2:00 p.m. - Ceremony, Terry Concert Hall
    College of Law Commencement Ceremony

Sunday, May 4, 2025

  • 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. - Graduate check-in
    9:00 a.m. - Ceremony, Swisher Science Green, the main quad
    Jacksonville University HERITAGE graduation celebration
    • Brooks Rehabilitation College of Healthcare Sciences

 

Parking

Graduate parking is available in the Oak parking garage by Oak Hall. There will be a shuttle service available. Please note that traffic on Commencement day is particularly congested. Please allow ample time for traveling to campus!

Download a map of available parking for graduates and guests. As a reminder, guests do not need tickets to attend Commencement.

Parking Map

Graduation Checklist

  1. APPLY TO GRADUATE
    • Complete the Application for Graduation, located in "self-service" by clicking on the "graduation" tab.
      Not sure if you've applied yet? Check Self-Service. This list is updated on the 15th of each month. Being on the list indicates only that you have applied to graduate, not that you have met your degree requirements.
    • Already Applied?  Verify your Name here.

  2. MEET THE DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
    • Please check your Degree Audit on Self-Service to make sure all the requirements are showing as registered or completed. If it does not, please stop by or call the Registrar’s Office at (904) 256-7090.

  3. REGISTER TO WALK IN COMMENCEMENT
  4. GEAR UP
  5. COMPLETE REQUIRED FIRST DESTINATION SURVEY
    • Complete the First Destination Survey, which will be emailed to you. Please contact Career Management with any questions.

  6. REVIEW YOUR FINANCIAL STATUS
    • Complete your student loan exit interview within six weeks of your official graduation date. 
    • Have your JU student account paid in full by April 15.

Cap & Gown

Deadline to order: March 22, 2024

Order Online

Cost

  • DNP: $207.98 - Includes Tam, Gown with Apricot piping, Tassel, Hood. Gown, Tam, & Hood are rental.  HJ will be at 100 Days for purchasing options and specials; they are sending a separate communication to these students to let them know since they are a targeted audience. Students can add a stole for $49.98-$58.98 ($49.98 is the standard stole and legacy stole, the military stoles are more expensive)
  • Doctorate: $159.98 - Includes Tam, Gown, Tassel, Hood. Gown, Tam, & Hood are rental.  HJ will be at 100 Days for purchasing options and specials; they are sending a separate communication to these students to let them know since they are a targeted audience. Students can add a stole for $49.98-$58.98 ($49.98 is the standard stole and legacy stole, the military stoles are more expensive)

Regalia

Your cap and gown will be black with a black tassel. Your tassel should be worn on your left-hand side, since you have a Bachelor's degree. Your doctoral tam will be the color that represents your area of study:

  • Olive Brown: Business
  • Peach: Nursing

Pickup Information

  • Regalia will be shipped to the address that you entered when you place your order at herff.ly/ju
  • ** All orders should be placed by March 22 **
  • Please allow approximately three weeks for announcement delivery. Caps and gowns will deliver in approximately four weeks from the order date

Gown Return

The cap, stole, and tassel are yours to keep. Regalia can be returned to either bookstore location following your ceremony, or you have the option to ship the gown back in the packaging it arrived in using the prepaid shipping label included in the box.

 

Diplomas

Diplomas will be mailed to all graduated students within four-six weeks after graduation date. Majors are printed on the diplomas, but minors are not.

Final Transcripts

Final Transcripts can be ordered anytime, even before you graduate. If you order them before you graduate, and you need them to show your degree, please mark the order to be released only once the degree has been posted.

Graduation Pictures

Congratulations on your achievement! GradImages® is the official photographer for spring commencement.

Grad Fest

Mark your calendars for Friday, April 28, to celebrate together for the last time before commencement. Meet us at 4:30 p.m. at the Dolphin Plaza and Swisher Science Green. Bring your cap, cords and stole for photos, and get ready to celebrate with your friends! At Grad Fest, you can pick up your commemorative champagne flute, gold Phin Alumni swag, philanthropy cord, alumni information, and more!

Financial Aid Exit Interview

Exit counseling is required before you graduate, even if you plan to attend graduate school. The exit interview helps you understand your rights and responsibilities as a student loan borrower, provides useful tips and information to help you manage your loans, and clearly explains various repayment options. It can be completed online. The financial aid staff is available to answer any questions you might have regarding your loan repayment.

Pay Your JU Account

You will not be able to receive your diploma or official transcript until your student account is paid in full. This includes any charges for parking tickets, room damage, judiciary fines, late payment fees, etc. Please ensure your student account balance is paid no later than April 14.

Senior Gift

​​​​The tradition of the senior class gift at JU swells from a culture of service and giving back that has become ingrained in our Dolphin DNA. The class gift gives soon-to-be alumni a chance to unite one last time as students to give back to the University that gave them so muchand to leave their mark on campus to represent their class for future generations. Contribute to the Senior Class Gift today.

Text Alerts

Your parents and family members can sign up for text alerts for time-sensitive information throughout commencement weekend. All they need to do is text JU to 237233. They'll get a confirmation message from our partners at AppArmor. (If your own number is up-to-date in Web Advisor, you are already subscribed to text alerts. This is an easy way for your guests to sign up for critical updates, too.)