Commencement FAQs

Widener University is excited to host commencement festivities for Chester and Delaware graduates on the Chester campus in Chester, PA!  A series of school/college-based outdoor ceremonies will take place over several days during the week of May 13 under a tent on Memorial Field.

• Tuesday, May 13 at 3 p.m. – School of Engineering 
• Wednesday, May 14 at 10 a.m. – School of Business Administration and Center for Graduate & Continuing Studies 
• Wednesday, May 14 at 3 p.m. – School of Nursing
• Thursday, May 15 at 10 a.m. – College of Arts & Sciences 
• Thursday, May 15 at 3 p.m. – College of Health & Human Services
• Friday, May 16 at 3 p.m. - Delaware Law School

While ceremonies will take place rain or shine, we have reserved time on Friday, May 16 for make-up options in the event dangerous weather forces a change in plans. 

Visit the program finder and filter by Colleges & Schools to see what college your program is in. 

Weather – With May weather being unpredictable, we want to be able to tent Memorial Field to allow us to proceed rain or shine.  It is not realistic to tent a space large enough to accommodate the entire graduate population and their guests without greatly restricting the number of guests each graduate can bring. 

Ceremony Length – By hosting multiple ceremonies, we are able to have much shorter ceremonies – usually between 60 and 90 minutes. Additionally, the smaller ceremony format provides a more intimate and personalized experience for both graduates and guests! 

No. Graduates are never required to participate in a commencement ceremony.  

Yes. Any graduate wishing to attend their assigned ceremony was required to RSVP through Tassel (formerly Marching Order) , our commencement portal, by Friday, March 14. If you missed the RSVP period and are interested in attending your ceremony, please contact gradpetitions@widener.edu immediately and we will do our best to accommodate you.

Possibly. Please immediately email your request to gradpetitions@widener.edu and we will do our best to accommodate you.

Yes. While graduates earning degrees from more than one school/college will be honored for all of their degrees at their primary ceremony, they are welcome to attend any additional ceremony they are eligible for. See details and exceptions in the question directly below.

Your assigned ceremony is pre-populated into your Tassel (formerly Marching Order) account (our online commencement portal) and available to view when the system opens on Monday, February 3.   

Additionally, most graduates can easily determine their ceremony assignment based upon the school/college they are earning their degree from. (Not sure which school/college your program is in? Visit the program finder and filter by Colleges & Schools.)

For graduates earning more than one degree, the following exceptions apply:

Graduates earning multiple degrees from different schools/colleges 

If you are earning degrees from more than one school/college, you will have the opportunity to RSVP in Tassel (formerly Marching Order) for one or both ceremonies. All of your degrees will be announced in any ceremony you attend, so participation in multiple ceremonies is only necessary if you want to extend the fun! (Example: A graduate earning a bachelor's degree from the College of Arts and Sciences and a master's degree from the School of Business can attend the College of Arts and Sciences ceremony, the School of Business ceremony, or both! Regardless of selection, both degrees will be announced at any ceremony the graduate attends.)   

Graduates earning multiple degrees from same school/college

You will be assigned to the school/college ceremony where you have earned all of your degrees.  (Example – A graduate earning both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from the School of Nursing will attend the School of Nursing ceremony. Both degrees will be announced at the ceremony.) 

If you still have confusion regarding which ceremony you are assigned to, please email gradpetitions@widener.edu.
 

No. We are unable to accommodate requests for specific dates and/or times as ceremonies are segmented by school/college.

As information becomes available, it will be posted on the university's events calendar as well as the commencement website. You may also contact your specific program or department for more information. 

Widener University’s Commonwealth Law School will hold a commencement ceremony separate from the Chester and Delaware Law campus celebrations. Graduates from Commonwealth Law School should watch their school website for more information to be posted.

Commonwealth Law School
 

The ceremony details below are provided for reference only and are subject to change at any time. 

For quick a quick summary of details, check out our Commencement Highlights At-A-Glance chart!
 
We are excited to host commencement for Chester and Delaware graduates on the Chester campus under a tent on Memorial Field for a series of school/college-based ceremonies!  Arriving to campus 30-60 minutes prior to the ceremony start time, graduates and their guests (no tickets/no limit on guests) will park and be directed to Memorial Field for graduate check-in, music, candid photos, and more under the welcome tent.  Approximately 30 minutes prior to the ceremony start time, guests will be asked to take their seats in the ceremony tent while graduates line up for the processional march. (For those who prefer to watch a live-stream of the ceremony in a climate-controlled environment, additional seating will be available inside Alumni Auditorium.) Ceremonies will begin promptly at their start times, with faculty processing first and graduates following. Brief opening remarks will be followed by graduates crossing the stage to have their names and degrees announced while receiving a symbolic representation of their diploma.* The ceremony will conclude with closing remarks, followed by a faculty and graduate recessional out of the ceremony tent. Guests will then recess at their leisure to reunite with their graduate(s). Approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the ceremony, graduates and their guests will exit the venue to allow for preparations of the next ceremony and/or clean-up.

Ceremony running time = 60 – 90 minutes (depending on the number of graduates participating from each school/college)

Total time on campus = 2 – 2.5 hours 

*Graduates will receive a commemorative padded folder as a symbolic representation of receiving a diploma when walking across the stage. Actual diplomas will be mailed to graduates at the address provided on their petition to graduate after all degree requirements have been confirmed.

While we anticipate the ceremony itself to be 60-90 minutes (depending on the number of graduates participating from each school/college), we encourage all graduates and their guests to plan for a total of 2 – 2.5 hours to account for parking, check-in, ceremony, and departure. 

Yes! Weather permitting, graduates will line up next to the welcome tent and process behind Old Main, under the dome, and into the ceremony tent.

Yes, brief opening and closing remarks will be made by select campus leaders. 

Yes – and we’re ready to cheer for you!

Yes. We will have professional photographers from Lifetouch Photography capturing the moment a graduate crosses the stage and is honored for their achievements. Information will be emailed to graduates over the summer when their photos are available to view and purchase online.  

While families are welcome to take their own photos from the audience, for everyone’s safety and to maintain the best view for all guests, we ask that you remain seated and not attempt to crowd the graduate/stage area.  

Drones are not permitted on campus or at ceremonies at any time.

Yes, faculty will be in attendance.

No. Graduates receive a commemorative padded folder as a symbolic representation of receiving a diploma when walking across the stage. Actual diplomas are mailed by mid-July after all degree requirements have been confirmed.  Graduates will receive their diploma at the address provided on their petition to graduate. 

No. We ask all graduates to remain seated after their names and degrees have been called in order to be respectful of the graduates who follow them, and those graduates’ families who are trying to watch and listen. Once the ceremony has concluded, all faculty and graduates will recess together out of the ceremony tent.  Guests will then recess at their leisure to reunite with their graduates. 

No, this is a non-ticketed event.

Graduates may bring as many guests as they like as this is a non-ticketed event.

In addition to the seating under the ceremony tent, limited supplemental seating will be available in the climate-controlled Alumni Auditorium where a live stream of each ceremony can be enjoyed.  Please note the ceremony is live streamed so loved ones can also choose to watch online from the comfort of their own homes anywhere in the world. 

Yes.  Any guest age 17 or younger MUST be accompanied by an adult at all times. 

No. This is prohibited for the safety of the child and the graduate.

Graduates expecting international guests at their ceremony can request the appropriate documentation needed to secure visas through the Office of International Student Services. To do so, email iss@widener.edu with answers to the following questions:

1. Student's government name
2. Student's degree program
3. Government names of all international guests that you wish to attend
4. Embassy or consulate where the guests will apply for the visa. City name will suffice
5. Explanation of each guest's relationship to you. If the guest is related to you, a description of your relationship such as "parent" or "sibling" will suffice. If the guest is not related to you, please explain how you know them and why it is important to you that they attend your commencement ceremony.

Yes, via MACtv - home of Widener Athletics! Each ceremony will be livestreamed at widener.edu/watchcommencement. The live feed will launch a few minutes before each ceremony allowing anyone around the world to be part of the celebration!

In-person attendance can be a challenge for some so this is an excellent option for loved ones who want to watch at home.

A copy of each ceremony live stream will be available to view on the university’s YouTube page within two weeks after commencement.

In most cases, ceremonies will take place rain or shine; graduates and guests are asked to dress accordingly. In the event of severe inclement weather that could impact the safety of all involved, plans will be adjusted.

We have reserved time on Friday, May 16 to make-up deferred ceremonies, but depending on the severity/duration of the situation, ceremonies could be canceled without the ability to reschedule.

For the safety and comfort of all our attendees, pets and emotional support animals are not permitted to attend commencement ceremonies. Trained service animals are welcome, which are defined by the ADA as a dog or mini-horse that is specifically trained to perform a task for a person with a disability. 

Yes! Light refreshments will be available for purchase through Savor the Moment, a concession-style food truck featuring a fun variety of soft drinks, chips, cookies, candies, and more! Savor the Moment will be located under the welcome tent on Memorial Field and gladly accepts cash, credit cards, Cash App, and Apple Pay.  

Looking for something simpler?  Visit our Info Tents, located near both Freedom Hall and Alumni Auditorium, for complimentary water stations.  

Yes. Campus Safety will perform security bag checks. There is no bag size limit. All prohibited items, including, but not limited to, weapons, disruptive noise makers, and alcohol (opened and unopened), will be confiscated.

Official Widener-branded academic regalia is required for all ceremonies and is available for purchase through the Widener bookstore online or in-person. We also recommend graduates dress for the weather underneath their academic attire, as well as plan for appropriate shoes – there will be significant walking on paved, stone, and grassy surfaces!

• Regalia for all graduates is available for purchase online or in person on the Chester Campus through the Widener bookstore. Phone orders are not accepted. Click to view store hours and location.
• You do not need to be measured if you are getting standard regalia. 
• For current regalia pricing, visit the Widener bookstore website for all listings.
• Some doctoral students, typically those who anticipate working in an educational setting, may decide to invest in custom doctoral regalia.  Two options are available: The Sussex ($970) and The Windsor ($1,421.75). 
• We advise you purchase your regalia as early as possible, but final deadlines are outlined in the table below :

Widener’s regalia has not changed since last year. If you purchased a cap and gown for 2024 and intend to be recognized for the same degree level, ie: bachelor, master or doctoral, then you can wear the same regalia. 

You only need to purchase new regalia if you are earning a higher degree in 2025.

Please review the campus-specific answers below: 

CHESTER CAMPUS GRADUATES 

Latin Honors 

Baccalaureate students who earn Latin Honors are recognized with a gold and white cord that can be worn with their regalia. Latin Honors, also known as academic honors, are also acknowledged in the digital program and verbally during the ceremony as the graduate crosses the stage. The minimum grade point averages for honors are:

• Cum Laude (with distinction)—3.50
• Magna Cum Laude (with high distinction)—3.70
• Summa Cum Laude (with highest distinction)—3.85

Students who achieve Latin Honors will be contacted via email by the Office of the Registrar in late April with information on how to pick up the cord ahead of commencement week.  

If you have questions about the status of your Latin Honors, please contact gradpetitions@widener.edu. 

Honor Societies 

For students who participate in honor societies, some societies recognize their membership with cords. If you are a member of any honor society, you should hear directly from them regarding distribution of cords and/or how to purchase them.  

DELAWARE LAW CAMPUS GRADUATES 

Latin Honors

Delaware Law students who earn Latin Honors are recognized with a blue and gold cord that can be worn with their regalia. Latin Honors, also known as academic honors, are also acknowledged in the digital program and verbally during the ceremony as the graduate crosses the stage. The minimum grade point averages for honors at Delaware Law are:

• Cum Laude —3.15
• Magna Cum Laude —3.50
• Summa Cum Laude —3.75

Students who achieve Latin Honors will be contacted via email by the Office of the Registrar in late April with information on how to pick up the cord ahead of commencement week.

If you have questions about the status of your Latin honors, please contact DelawareLawReg@widener.edu.

Honor Societies

For students who participate in honor societies, some societies recognize their membership with cords. If you are a member of any honor society, you should hear directly from them regarding distribution of cords and/or how to purchase them.
 

Widener does not recognize participation in extracurricular activities through its regalia. However, some groups produce their own stoles and distribute them to their graduates or offer them for purchase. Please reach out to your group leader/coach with questions or for more information. 

Yes! Commencement is a joyous time to celebrate you and all of your accomplishments, so we want to see your Pride! 

Any and all decoration, whether through messaging, art, or otherwise, must be respectful as outlined in the university’s Student Code of Conduct, which (in part) states “University students must show positive regard for each other, for property, and for the community.” Any items that are inappropriate, offensive, vulgar, may incite or illicit violence, or are otherwise not approved by the university will be removed.

Tassel (formerly Marching Order) is an online commencement portal that supports various functions in the planning process for commencement celebrations. Widener uses the Tassel platform to confirm graduate data and name pronunciation, share ceremony assignment information, collect ceremony RSVPs, and to send graduate communications via text and email.  

Petitioned graduates will get an email with a personalized link to activate their Tassel (formerly Marching Order) account on Monday, February 3, 2025 by 5 p.m. EST.

If you are unable to log-in or have difficulty completing items in Tassel (formerly Marching Order), please email gradpetitions@widener.edu for assistance. 

Widener University seeks to ensure that each participant can equally access, and engage in, all commencement festivities.

Examples of accessibility accommodations include (but are not limited to):

• American Sign Language Interpretation
• Programs or Written Materials in Alternative Format
• Live Captioning
• Assisted Listening
• Alternate Seating

To request an accommodation, graduates were asked to indicate their needs – and/or the needs of their guest(s) – by answering the required questions during the ceremony RSVP process in Tassel, which closed on March 14, 2025. If you and/or your guest require an accommodation and did not submit a request during the graduate RSVP process, please contact the Office of Student Accessibility Services immediately at disabilities@widener.edu or 610-499-1266. We will make every attempt to meet the needs of late requests as space, time, and availability allow.

Vehicles WITH Disability Parking Placards

All vehicles with an official government issued “Disability Parking Placard” (formerly known as a “Handicap Parking Placard”) will be granted access to the Wolfgram Lot on 17th Street, which is being reserved as our designated ADA lot closest to the ceremony site. Walking distance will vary depending on where in the lot you are parked, but you can anticipate traveling approximately 300-600 feet from lot to ceremony site, which is the equivalent of 1-2 football fields; please note there are no stairs from the lot to the ceremony site. (Before pulling into a space, cars may drop loved ones off in an area of the lot that is closest to the ceremony site, which will reduce the walking distance to approximately 200-300 feet.) 

Vehicles WITHOUT Disability Parking Placards

Vehicles traveling with individuals who are unable to walk extended distances, but do NOT have an official government issued Disability Parking Placard are invited to drop loved ones off in the ACN/Library Lot parking lot on 17th Street, which will reduce the walking distance to the ceremony site to approximately 200-300 feet; please note there are no stairs from the lot to the ceremony site. After drop-off, drivers will be directed to the closest available parking.   

All guests are asked to come prepared with their own mobility devices that work for their specific needs. Any mobility devices or transportation onsite are reserved for cases of emergencies only. 

Please review the commencement map for details.

No. Any mobility devices or transportation onsite are reserved for cases of emergencies only. Given this advanced notice on what to expect for walking and terrain, graduates and guests should prepare accordingly to bring the mobility devices that work for their specific needs.

The ceremony will be held on Memorial Field, which is a grassy surface. While relatively flat, it is known to significantly puddle during and after rainfall, even when covered by a tent. 

Limited solid walkways will be installed to help graduates process and guests reach their seats under the tent. Please note that the seating is on grass and there is a small step down from the solid walkway. Please use caution.

Yes!  Visit widener.edu/commencement on the day of your ceremony and scroll to ‘live webcast.’ The live feed will launch a few minutes before each ceremony allowing anyone around the world to be part of the celebration!

Graduates seeking a religious and/or cultural accommodation were asked to indicate their needs by answering the required questions during the ceremony RSVP process in Tassel (formerly Marching Order), which closed on March 14, 2025. If you require a religious and/or cultural accommodation and did not submit a request during the graduate RSVP process, please contact the Commencement Committee at commencement@widener.edu with complete details. We will make every attempt to meet the needs of late requests as space, time, and resources allow. 

Please contact the Office of Student Accessibility Services at disabilities@widener.edu or 610-499-1266 and our team will be happy to assist you!

The commencement website at widener.edu/commencement provides the latest plans and information. We encourage all graduates and their families to make the website their primary source for current information.  

All students who anticipate graduating in May 2025 should have petitioned to graduate in order to receive commencement-related emails. All graduates were required to petition to graduate no later than Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. 

If you missed the deadline, please log in to myWidener immediately to complete your graduation petition. Once logged in, go to Student Planning > Home > Graduation Overview > Graduation Application > Apply.  

For questions or support, please contact gradpetitions@widener.edu. 

Use #Widener2025 as the hashtag. Everyone is encouraged to tag the university in their Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram messaging. We enjoy being part of your celebratory posts!

E-mail gradpetitions@widener.edu with your updated information. You will receive a response once your information is updated, which generally takes 1-3 business days.

Graduation is the successful completion of all major/minor/concentration requirements AND the awarding of a degree. Students who successfully petition can graduate during one of three terms per year – May, August, or December. 

Commencement is the voluntary celebration that occurs once a year in May. Participation in a commencement ceremony is not required and does not guarantee the awarding of a degree.

In order to receive commencement related emails, all graduates were required to petition to graduate no later than Friday, Nov. 1, 2024.

If you missed the deadline, please log in to myWidener immediately to complete your graduation petition. Once logged in, go to Student Planning > Home > Graduation Overview > Graduation Application > Apply.  

For questions or support, please contact gradpetitions@widener.edu.  

Diplomas will be mailed to graduates at the address provided on their petition to graduate after all degree requirements have been confirmed.  We anticipate all May 2025 graduates will receive their diplomas no later than mid-July 2025. (All August 2024 and December 2024 graduates should have received their diplomas by this time. If not, please contact gradpetitions@widener.edu.)

Transcripts can be ordered at www.getmytranscript.com. Please be sure to choose “hold for degree notation” when ordering your transcript if you would like your degree noted. These transcript orders will be processed once degrees are conferred. 

Please review the campus-specific answers below:

CHESTER CAMPUS GRADUATES

Latin honors are calculated on all work completed in the baccalaureate programs at Widener, including original grades in the case of substitute courses. A minimum of 45 credits of registered coursework must be taken at Widener to be eligible for honors. Original grades from courses that are changed to retroactive pass/no pass will be included in the calculation for honors. 

For May graduates, honors are calculated at the end of the final fall semester and will be included in the commencement program and announced during the commencement ceremony as graduates cross the stage. After commencement, honors will be recalculated based on final spring grades and will be printed on official transcripts and diplomas. 

The minimum grade point averages for honors for baccalaureates on the Chester Campus are:

• Cum Laude (with distinction)—3.50
• Magna Cum Laude (with high distinction)—3.70
• Summa Cum Laude (with highest distinction)—3.85

If you have questions about the status of your Latin honors, please contact gradpetitions@widener.edu. 

DELAWARE LAW CAMPUS GRADUATES

Latin honors for Delaware Law students are calculated on all work completed in the program at DLS, including original grades in the case of substitute courses.

For May graduates, honors are calculated at the end of the final fall semester and will be included in the commencement program and announced during the commencement ceremony as graduates cross the stage. After commencement, honors will be recalculated based on final spring grades and will be printed on official transcripts and diplomas.

The minimum grade point averages for honors at Delaware Law are:

• Cum Laude —3.15
• Magna Cum Laude —3.50
• Summa Cum Laude —3.75

If you have questions about the status of your Latin honors, please contact DelawareLawReg@widener.edu.

Academic minors are recognized on your final official transcript. They are not announced at commencement, nor are they notated in the commencement program or on your diploma.

In addition to petitioning and submitting an RSVP through Tassel (formerly Marching Order), graduates must complete the following checklist in order to graduate/participate in commencement:

• Complete degree requirements. Contact your adviser or program director to verify completion of degree requirements.
• Satisfy all financial and library obligations. Degree candidates who have balances due at the Bursar's Office or books due at the library must satisfy these obligations before they can receive diplomas.
• All students who borrowed a Federal Perkins and/or Federal Direct Student Loan while enrolled at Widener University must complete an online exit counseling session to review their rights and responsibilities. Information about how to access the online sessions will be sent by e-mail
• Obtain cap and gown from the Widener Bookstore. See the Regalia section for order deadlines.
• If you or a guest require an ADA accommodation, see the Accessibility section for more information on how to do so. 
   

At this time, we have completed all on-campus portrait sessions. All 2025 graduates who were unable to make the on-campus dates are able to schedule their graduate portraits (first-time sittings and retakes) at a local Prestige Portraits by Lifetouch photography studio, however you must bring your own regalia. To find a local studio location and appointment availability, please visit https://lifetouch.com/contact-us/.

General portrait questions? 

Please contact Lifetouch Photography directly at 1-800-687-9327. Representatives are available Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Chester Campus portrait questions?

Please contact Victoria Fine at vnfine@widener.edu. 

Delaware Law Campus portrait questions?

Please contact Tammy Graham at tlgraham@widener.edu.

Both are available for purchase online through Jostens.com. 

No, drones are not permitted on campus during commencement week.

The pandemic is an always evolving situation and a resurgence of the virus could still force the university to make changes. Widener will always comply with government requirements and make decisions with the health and safety of our community as the top priority.

While things may change, at this time we ask that all participants follow CDC and local government guidelines. If you feel sick, have tested positive, and/or are experiencing any symptoms, please stay home. We thank you for your cooperation.

Possibly. As the health and safety of all participants is our top priority, we reserve the right to modify ceremony plans, as needed, to ensure those priorities are honored. Modifications could include, but are not limited to, requiring masks, proof of vaccination, testing, ticketing to limit the number of guests per graduate, transitioning to drive-through or virtual options, or cancellation without the option to reschedule.

Email us at commencement@widener.edu and we will be happy to assist you.