The university has not established a date for a commencement ceremony for spring and summer 2020 graduates. The university continues to work with state and local health departments to determine how to hold such an event in a way that ensures everyone stays safe and healthy. It is our hope to be able to invite you back to campus to formally celebrate your accomplishment. Please continue to monitor this website for updates.

No, however, the university will be providing virtual ceremonies as follows:

• Virtual Doctoral Ceremony: for all Doctorate graduates from May, August, and December.
  Saturday, December 12 at 5 p.m.
• Virtual May Class of 2020: Master’s, Specialists and Undergraduates. May only.
  Sunday, December 13 at 10 a.m.
• Virtual August/December Class of 2020: Master’s, Specialists and Undergraduates.
  Sunday, December 13 at 2 p.m.

Yes, you may come to campus to take photos. Please visit Protecting the Pack for all NIU safety guidelines.

Updated 9/9/20

For your name to appear in the commencement ceremony program, you will need to apply to graduate according to the deadline set by Registration and Records.

Please note, your name will not appear at all if you have a FERPA hold set up in your MyNIU privacy settings. You will need to request a FERPA change before graduate application deadlines.

• If you have any type of FERPA hold on your name, the university is not allowed to pint your name in this program. More information about this topic can be found on the Registration and Records website.
• Due to the printing schedule of the May/August program, the list of May graduates and August candidates was generated as of June 1, 2020.
  • If you applied for August graduation prior to June 1, you were in the May/August program. 
  • If you applied for August graduation after June 1, you will be listed in the August/December program.

Updated 9/9/20

Beginning in fall 2020, the university updated their contract for student regalia to become direct ship and charged directly to graduates. This is consistent with the practice of institutions across the state who charge a graduation fee to cover the cost of diploma covers, validating and printing degrees, etc. and either include a fee for regalia or have students pay separately. Regretfully, the current fee has not covered this amount and the university can no longer subsidize the regalia costs.

The graduation fee is not a part of the commencement ceremony costs. The graduation fee that our graduates pay is one of the lowest fees in the state. It simply helps offset a portion of the costs of validating, preparing and shipping your diploma and diploma cover, and is not refundable.

Please confirm on MyNIU that your address is correct for the December shipping of your diploma, diploma cover and commencement program, and watch your email for upcoming communications about the virtual ceremony.

Yes, you will be given the opportunity again when an in-person ceremony is scheduled.

No, there is no limit to the number of individuals that can watch and use the chat feature.

We are working on those details and plan to share them with graduates when they are available.  Continue to check your student email for updates.

Yes, when we are able to do so.