Commencement and Commissioning

Important Dates

October 2022

• Graduation Applications due October 1 for spring and summer completion. (Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

Early March 2023

• Summer and Fall Graduate Applications due. (Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
  Please note: Students who will complete degree requirements by August of 2023 and have not yet submitted a graduation application must do so no later than March 1, 2023. Applications after this date will be accepted, however, participation in Commencement is not guaranteed.  
• Ticket information available.

April 28, 2023 (Friday)

• Commencement rehearsal: 10 a.m. in Shapiro Field House. Graduates, please meet at Andrews Gym by 9:30 a.m. Attendance is required of all graduates except CGCS students.
• Joint Commissioning rehearsal: 11:30 a.m. in Shapiro Field House. Students being commissioned meet by 11 a.m., attendance is required.

April 29, 2023 (Saturday)

• Graduates must arrive at Andrews Gym at 9 a.m. for check-in.
• All graduates are required to wear appropriate “business casual” attire underneath academic regalia.
• During the ceremony, caps/mortarboards are removed by all students for the National Anthem; students should plan accordingly if they intend to pin on their caps/mortarboards. Students wearing academic regalia are not permitted to decorate their mortarboards.

This section is designed to provide supplemental information for CGCS students.  Please review the main pages and schedule for complete information on the venue, tickets, speakers, and more!  Schedule highlights for CGCS students include: 

• Masters Student Hooding Ceremony(details in section below) Friday April 28 6-7pm Plumley Armory
• Commencement Ceremony Saturday April 29 10am Shapiro Fieldhouse
  • Lineup 9am Andrews Gym (required for participants)
• CGCS SocialSaturday April 29 12:30-2:00pm Plumley Armory

Ordering Your Academic Regalia

Online students of the College of Graduate and Continuing Studies will need to purchase academic regalia from the Norwich University Bookstore. To order,email Ashmara at the Norwich bookstore at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Include the following information for gown sizing:

• full name
• major
• height
• approximate weight

Ashmara will create and set aside a package for you, which you will need to pick up and pay for in the university bookstore on Friday April 28th or Saturday morning, April 29th, before the commencement ceremony.

For master's students, academic regalia consists of:

• master's robe/gown with long, oblong sleeves
• cap/mortarboard
• black tassel with year
• discipline-specific master's hood (selected in the ordering process) 

For bachelor's students, academic regalia consists of the:

• bachelor's robe/gown
• cap/mortarboard
• black tasslewith year

 Attire for Commencement and Hooding

Commencement and Hooding are formal ceremonies requiring business attire; however, suit coats and sport jackets are not to be worn under your academic robe. If desired, your military uniform may be worn in place of the graduation gown.  Master’s graduates in uniform will carry their hood draped over one arm. 

During the Commencement ceremony, caps/mortarboards are removed by all students for the National Anthem; students should plan accordingly if they intend to pin on their caps/mortarboards. Students wearing academic regalia are not permitted to decorate their mortarboards.

Class Giving Office 

You may choose to contribute to your Senior Class Gift.

NU Alumni Association

Stay in touch with us after you graduate! Attend NU Club events where you live. Return for Homecoming 2023 and Order custom diploma frames and NU flags.

Master’s Hooding Ceremony 

Friday April 28 6-7pm Plumley Armory

This event is for master’s students only.   

The master’s hooding ceremony is a celebration of academic achievement beyond the bachelor’s degree. During our ceremony, faculty will place the hood of the degree upon the student’s shoulders, signifying the passage from student to master. 

Family and friends are welcome and encouraged to attend. No tickets required. 

Please arrive by 5:30pm for lineup.  

Attire for Commencement and Hooding

Commencement and Hooding are formal ceremonies requiring business attire; however, suit coats and sport jackets are not to be worn under your academic robe. If desired, your military uniform may be worn in place of the graduation gown.  Masters graduates in uniform will carry their hood draped over one arm. 

For the Master’s hooding ceremony, please wear your gown and carry your hood draped over your left arm with colored band closest to the elbow (we’ll show you when you arrive!).  The hood will be placed over your head at the ceremony.  Therefore, no caps/mortarboards or tassels are worn to the hooding ceremony.

Hooding Ceremony order of events:

• Procession
• Welcome from Provost and Dean of the Faculty, Dr. Karen F. Gaines
• Placement of hoods, by discipline
• Recession