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Commencement FAQs

MCAD Commencement Ceremony Information.

MCAD holds two formal Commencement Ceremonies each year: One in in May for undergraduate and MFA graduating students and one in August for MA graduating students. The May ceremony is held for BFA / BS students who completed their degree during that academic year. The August ceremony is for MA graduates who completed their degree within the academic year prior to August.  

Specific dates are published on MCAD's Academic Calendar online here: Academic Calendar.

December Commencement Information (last December ceremony will be 2024)

The December commencement ceremony will take place on Friday, December 13, 2024, at 6:30 pm, in Aud 150 in the Main Building, on MCAD campus. The ceremony will mark the completion and recognition of graduating students who have successfully completed their degrees. A reception will follow in the College Center. Media Arts screening will run during the reception in Aud. 150. 

Guests attending the ceremony will be required to have a ticket to enter. Students will be allowed four guest tickets each for the ceremony. Graduating students do not need a ticket. Tickets are not required for the reception. The ceremony will be streamed online and in the College Center for those who do not have a ticket. 

May Commencement Information

The May commencement ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at 3:00 pm, in the United Health Group Stage at the Children's Theatre. The ceremony will mark the completion and recognition of graduating students who have successfully completed their degrees. A reception will follow in the College Center. Media Arts screening will run during the reception in Aud. 150. 

Guests attending the ceremony will be required to have a ticket to enter. Students will be allowed four guest tickets each for the ceremony. Graduating students do not need a ticket. Tickets are not required for the reception. 

Guests without tickets may watch online. The commencement ceremony can be viewed online during the time of the event at the following link (Note: link will not be active until the time of the event.): https://mcad.edu/live 

Summer MA Commencement Information

Summer commencement for the students of the MACL is held the Friday following the end of the summer residency. The ceremony is held on MCAD's campus in Auditorium 150 Friday afternoon on the last day of the residency. There is a reception following the ceremony in the College Center, located in the Main Buidling. 

Parking is avialble in the MCAD lot or on the street. 

Tickets are not required to attend the ceremony. The ceremony will be recorded and posted online. 

Additional information is emailed direclty to the students. 

Additional Information for All Graduates

EXIT SURVEY

 

 

 

  • Satisfaction survey, reflect on MCAD experience – academics, services, resources, etc.
  • The college takes the responses very seriously and makes changes based on what we hear.
  • Survey is sent to all December and May graduates in the spring. It is sent to your MCAD email.
  • Instructors/chairs etc. won’t see results until after commencement.

OUTCOMES SURVEY

  • Gathers information on employment outcomes of all graduates one year after graduation, helping the college create programming to meet alumni and current students' needs.
  • Survey will be sent via Survey Monkey one year following graduation.

VAN DERLIP AWARDS

  • Six $2500 awards will be awarded during the Spring Commencement Ceremony. One each for the following: Design, Fine Arts, Media Arts, BS, MA, and MFA.
  • Fall and spring graduates are eligible to be considered to receive the Van Derlip awards. 
  • Any students who graduate in Fall semester, or will be graduating in the spring semester, should watch their email for instructions on how to apply to be considered for the Van Derlip awards.

CAREER DEVELOPMENT

  • Keep your contact info up-to-date with the Career Development office. 
  • Register as an Alumni on Handshake.
  • MCAD Career Development services are available to Alumni for life. 
  • Guidance involving job search strategies and networking advice.
  • Professional correspondence assistance including resume and cover letter development.
  • One on one appointments available.
  • Contact careers@mcad.edu with any questions.

ALUMNI RELATIONS & ART SALE

Be sure to provide a non-MCAD email when completing the Exit Survey, and also register for the online alumni directory at mcad.edu/alumni-directory. This will ensure that you will receive notices for Art Sale registration and future Alumni events. After you graduate, you can always reach the Alumni Relations office at alumni@mcad.edu.

MCAD EMAIL AND STUDENT SERVER ACCESS 

  • Students will have access to their MCAD email account for one year following graduation. (I.E. Graduates from December 2021, will have access until December 2022.)
  • Graduating student will have their access to MCAD services such as class servers, WiFi, and Adobe Creative Cloud software disabled 21 days from the date of graduation.
  • Please review Graduating or Leaving MCAD document from Computer Support
  • Any computer support-related questions should be sent to computer_support@mcad.edu.

 

Please contact MCAD Student Affairs with any questions or concerns: student_affairs@mcad.edu.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below you can find answers to many common questions that students ask pertaining to MCAD commencement.

How are students notified about commencement?

  • Students are notified by email about upcoming commencement planning and requirements.
  • There are informational commencement meetings held each semester for students who will be graduating in the upcoming ceremony. These meetings are mandatory for graduating students.

What should I wear?

  • Students are welcome to wear whatever they'd like. Traditionally, people dress up.
  • Undergraduate students are not provided caps and gowns, but are welcome to provide their own. 
  • Graduate students wear rented hoods and gowns provided by the college. These must be returned after the ceremony.

What do I need to do on the day of the ceremony?

  • MFA and MA student will pick up hoods and robers in M 09 in Morrison. 
  • Graduates wil have photos taken outside on the Morrison steps or in the Main Gallery, depending on weather conditions. 
  • Line up for the ceremony will be in the Morrison hall, no later than 30 minutes to the start of the ceremony. 
  • Plan to meet your friends and family at the reception following the ceremomy.
  • MFA and MA students must return hoods and robes to M 09.
  • Plan to leave coats, bags, valuables with friends or family. 

Are any MCAD resources available to students after graduation?

  • Career Development office and Alumni Relations office services are available to MCAD graduates for life.
  • Service Bureau printing services available for year following graduation by proposal only. (Note: papercut access ends at graduation. Payment for Alumni printing projects can be made through the Alumni Relations office.)
  • MCAD email remains active for one calendar year following the date of graduation.
  • Student Software access is restricted to currently enrolled students.

Diplomas

  • Students must complete the Exit Survey to receive their diploma.
  • Diplomas are available for pick up in the Records office. Email records@mcad.edu when you plan to pick up your diploma.
  • Fall graduates may pick up their diplomas around the first week of January. Spring graduates may pick up their diplomas in early June.

MASD, MAGWD, and MFA Graduates

  • Graduate students will take part in the Spring commencement ceremony. (Note: There is no Fall commencement ceremony for graduate students. Graduate students who complete their degree in Fall will take part in the following Spring commencement ceremony.)

Further questions? Contact MCAD Student Affairs.