Winter 2023 Commencement

Invitations to graduating students and eligible graduates will be sent via email beginning in September through the first week of December. To be eligible to receive an invitation to register to attend commencement, graduates must be on track to receive confirmation of their degree conferral by Wednesday, December 7, 2022. Only degree-earning graduates, not certificate recipients, are eligible to be recognized at this time. Registration for commencement will close on December 7, 2022.

The graduation application and commencement registration are two separate activities:

• Graduation application: To be eligible to receive an invitation to attend commencement, you must first apply to graduate and receive confirmation of your degree conferral from the graduation team. The email confirmation of your degree conferral will include details on the commencement ceremony for which you are first eligible to attend. This email is different from your invitation to register to attend commencement.
• Commencement registration: Once you receive conferral of your degree you are eligible to receive an invitation to register to attend commencement. Invitations to register to attend the winter 2023 commencement will only be sent to the graduating winter class of 2022 and previously eligible graduates who notified us of their intent to attend.

Please note that it takes two to four weeks to process the confirmation of your degree conferral. If you have questions about your requisites for completion, estimated graduation date, or when you can expect confirmation of your degree conferral, please reach out to your Student Success Advisor.

The winter 2023 ceremonies are schedule to recognize all degree programs and they will not be separated by college, school, or degree program. Therefore, during registration graduates will choose which date they want to participate in commencement based on eligibility and availability. While the ceremonies themselves will not be separated by college or school, graduates will be seated and recognized with fellow graduates in the same college and degree level.

Once a graduate registers to attend, their participation date and time will be verified in their confirmation email. Graduates can change their ceremony date or time, based on availability, using the link in their confirmation or schedule announcement email.

Each graduate is allotted a maximum of four guest tickets in addition to their graduate ticket – called a GradPass. A ticket denotes a seat and is needed for anyone over the age of 3. Additional ticket requests will not be accepted and no additional tickets will be issued leading up to commencement to ensure a safe environment and a fair distribution of tickets.

GradPasses and guest tickets will be managed through MarchingOrder. Registered graduates will be sent instructions on how to access and use MarchingOrder will be sent via email one week prior to commencement.

The GradPass and guest tickets can be presented on a mobile device or on paper.

Graduates are required to wear regalia to cross the stage. Walden has partnered with Herff Jones for all your regalia needs and other graduation products. All regalia will be shipped directly to the graduate and will not be available for pick-up on site. Graduates should order regalia by December 7, 2022 to have it shipped to their home in time for commencement. For graduates who have still yet to order or receive their regalia by the time they leave for commencement, Herff Jones will have regalia available on site.

Unsure of what to order or how to wear your regalia? This video will help explain the different types of regalia and how to properly wear them.

Walden awards Latin honors (cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude) and the Presidential Commendation for Academic Achievement (cumulative GPA of 4.0) at the bachelor’s level only.

Only honors-eligible graduates who register to attend commencement (virtual or in-person) will receive their Latin honors cord and/or presidential medallion. Graduates attending a ceremony in Florida will be sent instructions on how to pick up their honors items on site, while those participating virtually will receive their items in the mail.

Walden allows honors graduates to wear all honors regalia (such as cords, sashes, and stoles) during the ceremony. Each honor society is responsible for the sale and distribution of these items, so we suggest that you contact the honors society or student organization for more details. Please view the honor societies/student organizations’ contact information on the Student Organizations website.

More information coming soon!

Walden University and Adtalem Global Education strongly encourage vaccination against COVID-19 for all participants and attendees at our in-person and commencement events. Unless mandated by local ordinance, Walden will not require proof of vaccination for attendees.

These policies are based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and other local administrative or governmental agencies and ministries, and are designed to comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Based on current local and venue guidance, masks will be optional for students and guests attending the commencement events. Walden will continue to monitor guidance from local, state and federal authorities and may update based on local, state and/or federal mandates.

While at scheduled event activities, we recommend you use a face covering, follow the recommended CDC guidelines on hand washing and hand sanitizer, practice physical distancing, and monitor your health. If you are feeling ill, please refrain from attending the scheduled events.

GradImages will be on site in Orlando to capture your big day! Photographers will be stationed to capture images of you before, during, and after crossing the stage. Stations will also be available to take additional photos or headshots. More information and a link to pre-register with GradImages will be available here in the coming weeks.

Do you plan on taking photos to celebrate this momentous occasion? Whether you are taking them at home or working with a photographer, use these tips to capture the perfect moment. Once you have these photos of you in your regalia, we encourage you to share your photos with us and post them on social media using #WaldenUGrad.

View the Winter 2023 Commencement Policies for the in-person ceremonies.

The winter 2023 commencement ceremonies will be captioned live. If you need specific accommodations to access the event, please contact Student Wellness and Disability Services at [email protected] by May 13, 2022.