Rockhurst University Graduation: 2021 Activities

MAY 2021 GRADUATION ACTIVITIES

Participants include Rockhurst University Students who have applied to graduate in May 2021 or August 2021. December 2020 Graduates who request to participate in the ceremony may participate as well.

GRADUATION ORDER FORM FOR CAP & GOWN, EVENT TICKETS, AND SURVEY MUST BE SUBMITTED BY MIDNIGHT MARCH 7, 2021. 

CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE THE ORDER FORM & SURVEY: 

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=v2lEtTIxikmVAUNHQjhqUB5o-djfby9Alcme3jnAj0pUODFER1k5M0NRQkk0STg1T1IzR05KOUNOUy4u

Commencement Ceremony:  Friday May 21, 2021 at 1:00 pm 

• Tickets and Advance Reservations Required for attendees
  • Graduation Registration Form  - CLICK HERE to access the Registration Form before the 3/7/21 deadline
  • Graduating Students who register their attendance before March 7, 2021 are guaranteed one pair of Guest tickets if requested in the Registration Form
  • Up to 1 additional pair of guest tickets available through a Lottery after all seating assigned, while supplies last (also must be requested before March 7, 2021 in the Registration Form)
  • Guest seating is extremenly limited due to pandemic capacity and social distancing requirements.  We will be issued a total of 3500 guest tickets, and we have over 1100 graduates.  It is crucial we know how many graduates plan to attend prior to March 7, 2021, for if graduate attendance drops below 875 in the registration results, we can issue guest tickets in groups of 4 seats together instead of pairs and eliminate the lottery. This will ensure all available guest tickets are distributed equitably and the guest seating is filled to capacity. There will be no addtional seating available after March 7 to accommodate late respondents or exceptions to this policy.  
  • Graduates who indicate they will not attend the live Commencement Ceremony, and those who fail to submit aregistration form prior to March 7, 2021, will not be permitted to attend the live Commencement Ceremony or receive guest tickets to that event, but may watch the Livestreamed event online.  If undecided or unsure how many guest tickets you might need, please register YES to Attend the ceremony and request your guaranteed pair of guest tickets and the additional Lottery pair guest tickets; if your plans change and you or your guests are unable to attend, you can cancel your order and we will redistribute those tickets to students who requested but did not receive Lottery guest tickets. 
  • Event tickets are free, but ticket orders are restricted to graduating students only (family and friends may not request guest tickets).
  • Tickets are required of every person entering the stadium.  We discourage you from bringing babies and small children as the ceremony is over 3 hours long and difficult for small children to sit quietly through without disturbing others; if your young children must attend, each will require a ticket for entrance.
• Attire:
  • Graduates and participating faculty, staff, and administrators wear regalia (cap, gown, tassel, and hood <if appropriate>)
    • Tassel is worn on the RIGHT, then moved to the left upon conferral of degree (faculty and administrators who have received their degree wear tassel on the LEFT)
    • GRADUATES CLICK HERE TO ORDER CAP AND GOWN before the 3/7/21 deadline
    • Caps, gowns, tassels, and hoods will be shipped to the address provided by the Graduate by mid-April (or sooner) at no cost to the graduate.  Late regalia orders may be subject to a $50 late fee and are not guaranteed to arrive prior to commencement.  Click the link above before March 7 to process your cap and gown order.
    • Faculty will receive a link to order their regalia (if needed) via Rockhurst email; Faculty regalia will be available for pick-up at the Rockhurst University Bookstore in May 2021.
  • Guest attire:  photography-appropriate business attire
• Anticipated event length:  3 hours (approximately)
• FACE MASKS are required; no admittance to the stadium permitted without a mask
• Event will be Livestreamed for those unable to attend in person (link forthcoming)

Baccalaureate Mass:  Thursday May 20, 2021 at 7:00 pm

• Limited Seating; Advanced Registration and Tickets Required for all attendees
  • Graduates CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ATTENDANCE AT BACCALAUREATE before 3/7/21 deadline
• Anticipated event length:  1.5 hours
• Attire: 
  • Graduates and participating faculty/staff/administrators wear regalia (cap, gown, tassel and hood)
  • Graduates wear tassel on the RIGHT at Baccalaureate; Faculty and Administrators who have already received their degree wear tassel on the LEFT
  • Guests wear photography-appropriate business attire
• Event will be Livestreamed for those unable to attend in-person

Nursing Pinning Ceremony events are being planned by the individual Nursing Colleges (Research College of Nursing or Saint Luke’s College of Nursing); additional information forthcoming

DECEMBER 2021 GRADUATION ACTIVITES: 

Participants include Rockhurst University Students who have applied to graduate in December 2021

Commencement Ceremony - Saturday, December 11, 2021 at 1:00 pm, Rockhurst University Campus

Baccalaureate Mass - Friday, December 10, 2021 at 2:00 pm, St. Francis Xavier Church

Additional information forthcoming

Questions? Email us at graduation@rockhurst.edu

History
Rockhurst College was founded in Kansas City in 1910 with a charter from the state of Missouri empowering Rockhurst College to grant degrees. The construction of Sedgwick Hall in 1914 allowed the opening of high school classes in 1914; college classes began in 1917. The first class to graduate from Rockhurst College was in 1921. Just as the Jesuit order grew from the calling of one man into a worldwide force, so Rockhurst University has grown from the dream of a small, hardy crew of Jesuits into an institution with national reach.