Preparing to Participate

Commencement Ceremony

Spring 2026 Commencement

Date: Saturday, May 16, 2026
Processional: 7:30 p.m.
Ceremony Time: 8:00 p.m.
Location: Michael A. Carroll Stadium

What to Expect

Spring 2026 Commencement Ceremony Details

Schedule 

7:00 p.m.

All participating faculty members, whether you are hooding a doctoral candidate or not, must be at the IU Natatorium for robing and lineup.

7:30 p.m.

Graduate procession begins. 

8:00 p.m.

The ceremony begins. 

9:30 p.m.

The recession concludes the ceremony. 

 

Details

  • Spring Commencement is an outdoor ceremony that is held rain or shine unless there is severe weather, in which case you will be informed of a contingency plan. 
  • While all IU Indianapolis faculty members are heartily welcome to attend Spring Commencement, it is especially important for the research chairs of doctoral students to attend to hood their students. 
  • If you are the research chair of a doctoral candidate who will be hooded at Commencement, you and the graduate must arrange to meet at the IU Natatorium, 901 W. New York Street, so that you can walk with the graduate in the procession and be seated together. If you cannot attend Commencement, our team will appoint a faculty member who is in attendance to hood your graduate. 
  • Faculty members who will not be hooding a doctoral candidate are still encouraged to attend. You should also meet in the student lineup area at the Natatorium and help lead graduates from your school in the processional. 
  • All participating faculty members, whether you are hooding a doctoral candidate or not, must arrive at the Natatorium no later than 7:00 p.m. for robing and lineup. 
  • Complimentary parking is available for faculty in the Sports Complex Garage. View faculty parking map. 
  • Please remember to wear your academic apparel. The apparel will be provided free of charge, and it will be easy (and free) to mail the apparel back to Herff Jones after the ceremony. 
  • Personal items such as bags, umbrellas, and briefcases cannot be stored at the Natatorium, so please leave them in your vehicleor office. 
  • After the procession into Michael A. Carroll Stadium, the ceremony begins at 8:00 p.m. It includes remarks by President Whitten and others, the hooding of doctoral candidates, and the conferral of degrees. The proceedings are rich in music, fanfare, and tradition and memorable for our graduates and their professors.
  • The ceremony is expected to end at approximately at 9:30 p.m.
  • Opt-in to safety messages during Commencement by texting “SafeIUIndy” to 77295.

Faculty Commencement Apparel

Review the Doctoral Hooding Process