Commencement and Commissioning

To ensure you can graduate and receive tickets for the Commencement Ceremony, submitting your graduation application is required. It needs to be approved by the Office of the Registrar before you're eligible for these next steps.

Apply, confirm, and review your application submission

Log in to BannerWeb. Select 'Student' from the main menu on the left-hand side of your profile page, and click 'Apply to Graduate.'

On your profile page, go to 'Graduation Information.' If an application is currently on file, you will see an active link that you can select for review.

Learn more about graduation, degree conferral, and credentials through the Office of the Registrar.

Note: You cannot change your application once it has been submitted. However, if you need to update any information, please email registrar@norwich.edu.

Campus-based Graduates
Order your cap and gown by February 21.
Pick up at the Campus Bookstore, beginning April 7.

You must place your regalia order with Jostens by Feb. 21. All orders will be shipped to the Campus Bookstore, with orders available for pick-up beginning April 7. If you do not order by the deadline with Jostens, you will be subject to availability from the Campus Store directly, and will not be able to pay online.

Online Graduates
Order your cap and gown by March 26.
Usually ships within five weeks to the address you entered.

What does my regalia include?

Bachelor's:

• bachelor's gown
• cap and black tassel with graduation year charm 

Master's:

• master's gown with long, oblong sleeves
• cap and black tassel with graduation year charm
• master's hood with a colored band that represents your major (selected during the order process)

Day of the Event: Formal Attire

Hooding and Commencement are formal ceremonies requiring business attire. Bulky items such as blazers or coats should not be worn under academic robes. 

Military uniforms can be worn in place of academic regalia.

Master's graduates in uniform will carry their hood draped over one arm.

Master's graduates should wear their gowns and carry their hoods draped over their left arms with the colored band closest to their elbow. Hoods will be placed over the heads of graduates during the ceremony. Caps should not be worn during the Hooding Ceremony. Staff and faculty will be available for assistance.

Students are not permitted to decorate their caps. 

Graduates will be asked to remove caps just before the National Anthem, so plan to pin caps loosely to ensure easy removal when requested.

Class rings are available from Jostens for both campus-based and online graduates. 

Order a class ring for campus-based graduates.

Order a class ring for online graduates.

Former Norwich University graduates who have not yet participated in a Commencement Ceremony can request to walk in May with the Class of 2026.

Register to request participation by March 2.

All campus parking lots are open during Commencement and Commissioning events. The campus will be well-marked for parking throughout the weekend, and attendants will be present to direct traffic.

I-89 or from Route 12
If you are traveling to campus via I-89 or from Route 12, both will be backed up on the morning of the ceremony. Please leave early. Doors to Shapiro will open promptly at 8 a.m.

Campus Map, Directions, Trip Planning

Parking tags and drop-off locations
Guests with a valid handicap parking tag or mobility limitations can park along Gen. ID White Avenue, at Shapiro Field House, and in designated accessible parking areas. Guests with mobility limitations should bring their own medical equipment, such as wheelchairs and walkers, with them. Please comply with all posted signs and with the parking staff's directions. Guests can be dropped off directly outside of Shapiro Field House, but the road is narrow and turning around can be difficult due to heavy pedestrian and golf cart traffic around the venues.

Golf carts 
Golf carts and authorized drivers are available during the weekend to assist guests with transportation between venues and from parking lots. Carts will circle the campus regularly and can be flagged by guests. Priority will be given to guests with mobility limitations. Please note that waits for golf carts are sometimes long; plan accordingly. For instance, inclement weather in Vermont during the spring can quickly cause muddy conditions for golf cart drivers and passengers.

Campus Venue Policies

We ask that all graduates and guests adhere to the following campus policies:

• No food or drink is permitted in Shapiro Field House except for water and baby food/formula.
• Per Vermont state law and Norwich University policy, no alcoholic beverages are permitted on campus grounds. Alcoholic beverages may be served in Partridge Pub and at catered events. Anyone violating this code will be asked to leave campus.
• Pets are not allowed in venues, and parking lots are not shaded, so please do not leave pets in cars. Service animals are permitted with notice. Email commencement@norwich.edu.
• Umbrellas are allowed inside ceremony venues but must remain closed.
• All bags will be checked by security at the time of ticket scanning before entrance into the venue is permitted.
• Strollers should not be in aisles or within seating rows in Shapiro Field House. Aisle seating is reserved for people with disabilities. Please place strollers along the building’s back wall.

Seating

Tickets will be required to enter Shapiro Field House and will be scanned by campus security upon entry. Seats in Shapiro are not assigned, so it is recommended to arrive early to obtain good seats. Anyone who does not have a ticket will be asked to go to Kreitzberg Arena to view a live stream of the ceremony. Kreitzberg Arena is next door to Shapiro.

Note: At the end of the Commencement ceremony, Norwich Artillery Battery will fire a Pack Howitzer cannon outside of the venue. For guests with noise sensitivities, please consider sitting on the right side of the venue, furthest from the main doors.

Accessibility and Special Requests

Accessible Seating
Guests in wheelchairs will be escorted to available aisle end caps for seating. Families will be seated together. Guests with mobility challenges need to bring their own mobility equipment to the events.

Service Animals
Service animals are permitted in Commencement and Commissioning Ceremonies with prior notice, but pets are not permitted.

Note: One section of seating in Shapiro Field House is bleacher seating. Although these seats provide guests with a higher vantage point to view the ceremony, bleacher seating is not easily accessible by guests with limited mobility, and bleacher seats do not have back support. Seating in bleachers requires climbing, which is not always convenient with festive attire. Students should plan and communicate accordingly with their guests.

Hearing-impaired Guests
American Sign Language interpreters will be on stage to assist guests who are hearing-impaired. Interpreters will be located on the main stage and visible on large screens, including the live stream.

Questions and Special Requests
If you require additional services or have questions, please email commencement@norwich.edu.

Ceremony Attire

Commencement and Commissioning are formal ceremonies to honor our Norwich graduates. Please dress in a manner that is respectful and appropriate for these occasions. Many service members will be uniformed, and those in civilian clothing should ensure they are comfortably dressed for both movement and sitting. It is also recommended to dress in layers due to the chilly spring weather in Vermont. 

Official Portraits

Official graduation portraits will be taken to the left of the stage, directly after graduates receive their diplomas. Both senior and graduate portraits are available for order directly from Ericson Photography one month after the ceremony.

The Norwich University Department of Public Safety provides a 24-hour physical security presence, 365 days a year. 

The Department of Public Safety is located in the southwest end of the Hayden Building. From an off-campus phone, public-safety personnel can be contacted by dialing 802-485-2525 or 802-485-2499. On-campus callers can reach Public Safety by dialing ext. 2525 or 2499. 

Public Safety officers are available to assist with lost and found issues, motor vehicle assistance, and parking.

First Aid and Medical Assistance 
The Student Health Center, formerly known as the “Infirmary,” is on the first floor of Marsilius Hall on 63 Crescent Ave. The Health Center is operated by the Central Vermont Medical Center. There will also be EMT staff and an ambulance stationed outside the venue, should it be required.

In an emergency, please dial 911.

These are a few of the frequently asked questions we receive beyond what's already been provided on this page.

I'm a master's graduate. Should I come to both the Hooding Ceremony on Friday and the Commencement Ceremony on Saturday?
You are welcome to attend both and will be honored at both. Students who are not able to attend both may find that the Hooding Ceremony is more customized and personal to attend with friends and family.

Will there be a graduation rehearsal?
Yes, for campus-based undergrads, there is a required rehearsal on Friday, May 1, at 9 a.m. in Shapiro Field House. If you are an online graduate and are in town, you are welcome to attend the rehearsal, but are not required.

Where can I stay?
There are limited accommodations in the town of Northfield, VT. The three closest towns are Montpelier, Barre, and Randolph. The Campus Map, Directions, and Trip Planning page provides a list of potential lodging options. Make reservations early.

What is the closest airport?
The closest airport to the Norwich University campus is the Burlington International Airport (BTV). It is about a 50-minute drive to campus.

You are forever part of the Norwich family. Your connection to Norwich doesn't end at graduation — it's a lifelong bond. 

Your experiences and guidance are vital to our mission, and we believe in continuing to look out for each other. Together, we create a support network that spans generations, always ready to lend a hand and make a difference.

Contribute to the senior class gift

Stay in touch with us after you graduate. Attend NU Club events where you live, return for Homecoming 2026, and order custom diploma frames and NU flags.

• Find a regional NU alumni club
• Order custom diploma frames and NU flags