Graduation Activities Schedule

Rockhurst Community Announcement August 2, 2023:

This year our commencement celebrations will be held in a different format. The University will return to the traditional spring commencement ceremony at the Municipal Auditorium in May. There will not be a December 2023 commencement ceremony this year.

Moving forward, the University will be holding hooding ceremonies in Arrupe Hall auditorium. Hooding ceremonies recognize the work to complete master’s and doctoral degrees. These are different from the commencement ceremony, which is the actual conferring of all degrees. We understand this is a highly valued recognition for our master’s and doctoral students so that the hooding ceremonies will offer a more personalized experience for the graduates and their families.

Rockhurst University wants the commencement celebration to be meaningful and joyful for all the graduates. All graduates are able to participate in the spring commencement ceremony. This will allow participation in the Baccalaureate Mass and the Hawk Walk march to the Power and Light District, where the traditional hat toss is held before graduates celebrate with family and friends in an exciting environment.

Please see the schedule below for the outline of celebrations and commencement ceremonies:

Schedule for 2023-2024 Candidates for Degrees

2023 AUGUST (summer term) ASSOCIATE AND BACCALAUREATE DEGREE CANDIDATES

• Candidates will be recognized in a choice of one of the following options: 
  •       November 4, 2023, in Arrupe Hall auditorium at 10:30 am; or
  •       May 11, 2024, commencement ceremony held at Municipal Auditorium and Hawk Walk celebration in the Power and Light District.

2023 AUGUST (summer term) MASTER’S AND DOCTORAL DEGREE CANDIDATES

• Candidates will be recognized in a choice of one of the following options:
  •       November 4, 2023, in Arrupe Hall auditorium, which will include master’s and doctoral hooding at 10:30 am; or
  •       May 11, 2024, commencement ceremony held at Municipal Auditorium. Hooding for master’s and doctoral candidates will occur on campus prior to the May commencement ceremony. 

2023 DECEMBER (fall term) ASSOCIATES AND BACCALAUREATE DEGREE CANDIDATES

• Associate and baccalaureate candidates will be recognized in the May 11, 2024, commencement ceremony held at the Municipal Auditorium and Hawk Walk celebration in the Power and Light District.

2023 DECEMBER (fall term) MASTER’S AND DOCTORAL DEGREE CANDIDATES

•       December 16, 2023, ceremony in Arrupe Hall auditorium, which will include master’s and doctoral degree hooding (only); and
  • 11:00 am OT students 
  • 1:00 pm PT studeents
  • 3:00 pm CBIIA/BIA
•       May 11, 2024, commencement ceremony held at Municipal Auditorium and Hawk Walk celebration in the Power and Light District.  

ALL UNDERGRADUATE NURSING DEGREE CANDIDATES (completing in December 2023)

•  December 15, 2023, pinning and hooding ceremony in Arrupe Hall auditorium at 7:00 pm.
• Undergraduate nursing degree candidates will also be recognized at the May 11, 2024, commencement ceremony held at the Municipal Auditorium and Hawk Walk celebration in the Power and Light District.

Schedule for 2024-2025 Candidates for Degrees

For the 2024-2025 candidates for degrees, students will be recognized in the following ceremonies:

2024 (summer term) ASSOCIATE AND BACCALAUREATE DEGREE CANDIDATES

• Candidates will be recognized in the May 11, 2024, commencement ceremony held at the Municipal Auditorium and Hawk Walk celebration in the Power and Light District.

FALL 2024 AND SPRING 2025 ASSOCIATE AND BACCALAUREATE DEGREE CANDIDATES

• Candidates will be recognized in the May 2025 commencement ceremony held at the Municipal Auditorium and Hawk Walk celebration in the Power and Light District.

2024 (summer term) MASTER'S AND DOCTORAL DEGREE CANDIDATES

• Candidates will be recognized in a separate hooding ceremony in May 2024 and in the May 2024 commencement ceremony and Hawk Walk celebration in the Power and Light District.

2024 (fall term) MASTER'S AND DOCTORAL DEGREE CANDIDATES

• Candidates will be recognized in a hooding ceremony in December 2024 and will be recognized in the May 2025 commencement ceremony held at the Municipal Auditorium and Hawk Walk celebration in the Power and Light District.

2025 (spring term) MASTER'S AND DOCTORAL DEGREE CANDIDATES

• Candidates will be recognized in a separate hooding ceremony in May 2025 and will be recognized in the May 2025 commencement ceremony held at the Municipal Auditorium and Hawk Walk celebration in the Power and Light District.

Thank you,

Sue Willcox, Ph.D.,

Provost

ALL degree levels and disciplines are honored in the same Commencement Ceremony. Dates/times/locations are all subject to change.  

Commencement Ceremony Dates through 2026:

Graduates will be honored in the following Commencement Ceremonies:

• Saturday, May 11, 2024, 1:00 pm Municipal Auditorium (301 W. 13th Street, KCMO 64105)
• Saturday, May 17, 2025, 1:00 pm 
• Saturday, May 16, 2026, 1:00 pm 

Baccalaureate Mass Dates through 2026:

• Friday, May 10, 2024, 2:00 pm (2nd weekend of May) at St. Francis Xavier Church (52nd & Troost, KCMO 64110)
• Friday, May 16, 2025, 2:00 pm (3RD weekend of May) 
• Friday, May 15, 2026, 2:00 pm (3RD weekend of May) 

May Saint Luke's College of Nursing Pinning Dates through 2026:

• Friday, May 10, 2024, 7:00 pm at Arrupe Auditorium
• Friday, May 16, 2025, 7:00 pm at Arrupe Auditorium
• Friday, May 15, 2026, 7:00 pm at Arrupe Auditorium