Commencement FAQ

All December and January graduates, May candidates, and other candidates who are within eight credits of completing requirements may participate in the commencement ceremony.

Questions about credits and eligibility should be directed to the Registrar’s office at [email protected].

Seniors receive periodic emails throughout the year. If you have questions for any office/department, please reach out to them directly via email.

See the Graduation Checklist page for more information.

Students will receive information from the Student Accounts Office throughout the spring semester reminding them to clear any balance due on their account that could prevent them from receiving their diploma. Graduates who have a balance due may participate in commencement but might not receive their diploma or transcripts until the financial obligation to the college has been met.

Email [email protected] with questions.

The Herff Jones cap and gown order portal has closed.

The Highlander will have some extra regalia available for rent. Please watch the Mac Daily for more information in early May. Contact [email protected] if you have any questions.

Caps and gowns are not required to participate in the commencement ceremony.

The registration and ticket request form for the 2025 ceremony has closed.

Email [email protected] if you have questions about your registration or ticket status.

Yes, all guests must have a ticket to attend the ceremony in the Fieldhouse. (Exception: Any child under two years of age, not occupying a seat, may attend without a ticket and therefore not count towards a graduate’s guest ticket limit.)

The registration and ticket request form for the 2025 ceremony has closed.

Graduates will receive their guest tickets via email a few days prior to the event, and are responsible for forwarding the ticket information to their guests.

• For family, friends, and community members who do not have Fieldhouse tickets, additional on-campus simulcast viewing locations are in the Alexander Hill Ballroom, Kagin Commons; and JBD Lecture Hall in the lower level of the Campus Center. Tickets are not required in these locations. For those unable to be on campus, Commencement will be live streamed on macalester.edu/commencement.

Email [email protected] if you have questions about your registration or ticket status.

Yes, we will live stream the May Commencement ceremony. The link for the live stream will be posted on our main Commencement webpage prior to the event. We will also post a link to the recording shortly after the ceremony.

Yes, a professional photo will be taken of each graduate, and students can typically expect proofs via email (to your Macalester email address) within two weeks of commencement.

If you don’t receive an email, please use the search function at gradimages.com to find your proofs.

No, at Macalester, we allow graduates to select their own seats for the commencement ceremony. This seat selection happens at the commencement rehearsal. More information will be shared closer to the event.

No, with the exception of reserved seats for those who have requested accessible seating in advance.

Macalester College strives to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully.

We will provide accessible seating for access for individuals with disabilities with specific accommodation needs. To prioritize this seating, there is a limit of two (2) tickets for this area: one for the individual requesting seating and one for a companion to accompany that individual. These two (2) tickets/seats do count toward the graduating senior’s ticket limit.

Sign language interpreters and Captioning will be provided during the Commencement Ceremony.

To request a disability related accommodation or inquire about accessibility please complete this form. Once we receive your completed form, you will receive additional information about parking, your assigned seating area and other event information.

Please submit your request by end of the day April 24, 2025.

Questions? Email [email protected].

All campus parking lots will be open to guests, and designated ADA accessible parking spots will be available.

Use 130 Macalester Street, St. Paul, Minnesota for GPS directions to available parking.

See our Interactive Campus Map for details.

Construction Notice: Construction along Snelling Avenue/Hwy 51 may impact Commencement traffic. Replacement of traffic signals and ADA curb cuts at the intersection of Snelling Avenue and St. Clair Avenue will require the temporary installation of four way stops instead of traffic lights. We anticipate slower traffic in all directions, and encourage those coming to campus to plan extra time for possible delays.  Additional information may be found here.

At the beginning of spring term, all seniors, as well as faculty and staff, are invited to nominate a senior to give the student address. The selection committee consists of one faculty member, three students and two staff.

The commencement speaker selection rests with the college president. Generally, speakers are selected because their work or activities embody Macalester’s core values; they have a record of outstanding achievement; and/or they have a special connection to Macalester.

The length of our commencement ceremony varies from year to year depending on the number of graduates, the length of speeches, and other factors. Please allow at least 2.5 to 3 hours for the ceremony.

Graduates who have rented robes will be required to return them before they leave campus, so please consider that when making travel plans or restaurant reservations.

• African Music Ensemble, Kente Stoles
• Alpha Kappa Delta – Sociology Honors Society, Teal Honor Cords
• Anthropology Major, Lilac Cords
• Chanter Literary and Arts Magazine, Orange and Black Cords
• Delta Phi Alpha – German Honor Society, Black, Red, and Gold Honor Cords
• Epsilon Kappa Chapter of Gamma Theta Upsilon – International Geography Honors Society, Gold, Dark Brown and Light Blue Honor Cords
• Eta Sigma Phi – Classics Honor Society, Purple and Gold Honor Cords
• Ethics Bowl/Mock Trial, Orange Cords
• First Generation Graduates, Pale Blue Honor Cords
• International Students, Home Country Flag Sashes
• Iota Sigma Pi – Chemistry Honor Society, Green, White and Yellow Honor Cords
• Lavender Graduation Participants, Rainbow Tassels
• Lealtad-Suzuki Center for Social Justice, Stoles / Tribal Blankets
• Macalester First Aid, Royal Blue and Silver Honor Cords
• Macalester College Student Government, Royal and Light Blue Honor Cords
• Mac Weekly, Plum Honor Cords
• Nu Rho Psi – Neuroscience Honors Society, Black, Silver, and Gold Honor Cords
• Omicron Delta Epsilon – Economics Honor Society, Yellow, Gold, and Royal Blue Honor Cords
• Phi Alpha Theta – History Honor Society, Light Blue and Red Honor Cords
• Phi Lambda Upsilon – Chemistry Honor Society, Light Blue, and Pink Honor Cords
• Pi Sigma Alpha – Political Science Honors Society, Red, Black, and White Honor Cords
• Psi Chi – Psychology Honors Society, Orange and Blue Honor Cords
• QuestBridge, Teal, Blue and Silver Honor Cords
• Resident Assistants, Green and Light Blue Honor Cords
• Rites of Passage, Woven and Embroidered Stoles
• Sigma Tau Delta – English Honor Society, Black and Red Honor Cords
• Tri Beta – Biology Honors Society, Red and Green Honor Cords
• Summa cum laude, Gold Honor Cords
  • The designation of summa cum laude is based on achieving a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.90
  • The designation magna cum laude is based on achieving a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.80
  • The designation cum laude is based on achieving a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.65