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Walden University will host its 70th commencement ceremonies in San Antonio, Texas at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center on January 18-20, 2024.
Event Overview
Walden’s 70th commencement will celebrate the winter class of 2023 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas. Graduates will only participate on one day, as each ceremony is scheduled to recognize graduates from all degree programs. Graduates will choose which day they want to participate during the commencement registration process based on their eligibility and available space. More specific details about registration, tickets, regalia and more can be found in the Graduation Information section of this page.
For graduates unable to join us in person, a virtual commencement will also be offered on Saturday, February 3, 2024.
For additional engagement opportunities and information, follow us on Facebook and keep an eye out for the official Facebook Event, the Commencement Showroom page, and more. As you share on social media, be sure to use #WaldenUGrad on your posts!
Location and Travel
The Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center will host Walden’s 70th commencement ceremonies. The convention center is conveniently located in San Antonio and connects to our host hotel, the Grand Hyatt San Antonio Riverwalk, where Walden has secured a block of rooms at a discounted event rate. Graduates and attendees staying at the host hotel can take advantage of this exclusive room rate and fully immerse themselves in the Walden experience!
While the ceremonies will be held at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, there is plenty more to discover in San Antonio. A city rich in history, bursting with culture, and booming with modern attractions, San Antonio invites visitors to discover what is old and explore what is new.
For any guests who are unable to join in San Antonio, the ceremony livestreams will be available on the commencement showroom page when it is published the week of commencement.
Hotel Details
Walden has secured a block of rooms at the Grand Hyatt and the Hyatt Regency at exclusive discounted rates. Book your room reservation by December 22, 2023 through the housing link below to secure your accommodation and begin planning your commencement experience! Please do not call the hotel directly to make your reservations. If you need additional assistance, you may contact the housing coordinator via email at [email protected].
Graduate Information
Graduate Registration
Invitations to graduating students and eligible graduates will be sent via email beginning at the end of October 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 Friday, December 8, 2023. Only degree-earning graduates, not certificate recipients, are eligible to be recognized at this time. Registration for commencement will close on Friday, December 8, 2023.
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 2024 commencement will only be sent to the graduating winter class of 2023 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.
Schedule and Participation
The winter 2024 ceremonies are scheduled 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 space available.
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.
Registered graduates can expect their ceremony to begin at any time between 8am and 6pm on the date they select to participate. The exact timing of ceremonies will be released no later than December 1, 2023. Once ceremony times are released, graduates can modify their selection, based on availability, using the link in their confirmation or schedule announcement email.
Guest Tickets
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.
Regalia
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 11, 2023 to have it shipped to their home in time for commencement. For graduates who need assistance on site or don’t have 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.
Honors Cords
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 an in-person ceremony 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.
Travel
More information coming soon!
Graduation Images and Photoshoots
GradImages will be on site 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.
Commencement Policies and Procedures
Coming Soon!
Student Wellness and Disability Services
Walden has taken measures to ensure that our commencement venues are accessible and ADA compliant. The winter 2024 commencement ceremonies will be captioned live and held on a wheelchair accessible stage.
To help us better plan and accommodate, the commencement registration form will provide graduates the option to let us know if they will be using the assistance of a mobility device (walker, wheelchair, scooter, etc.).
In order to ensure all of our attendees have a safe experience, we encourage any attendees with accessibility concerns to carefully review the venue details and determine if they require additional assistance. Adtalem and Walden employees are unable to make specific and individualized arrangements, provide mobility devices or physical assistance on site.
