All ODU students are required to apply for graduation, and pay a $150 graduation fee, whether or not you plan to attend the ceremony.

Deadline to apply for Spring Graduation is March 31, 2015.

Apply & Pay Fee

You must RSVP for graduation whether or not you plan to attend the ceremony.

RSVPs are required in order to purchase a cap and gown, walk in either ceremony, and to ensure that you will have tickets for commencement.

The deadline for the May 2015 commencement ceremony is Monday, April 27.

Tickets will be available for pick-up beginning Thursday, April 30, at 11 a.m.

RSVP Now

• Apply for graduation through ODU Online before March 31, 2015, and pay the $150 graduation fee. The application and fee are required whether you plan to attend the ceremony or not.  
• RSVP for graduation whether or not you plan to attend the Baccalaureate and/or Commencement ceremony. RSVPs are required in order to purchase a cap and gown, walk in either ceremony and to ensure that you will have tickets for commencement. The deadline is April 27, 2015. 
• Contact the Library at (614) 251-4752 to make sure all fines are paid.
• Contact the Business Office at (614) 251-4550 to make sure all fees/fines are paid.
• If you borrowed federal loan funds, use your Personal Identification Number (PIN, the same number used to sign the FAFSA) to access your complete federal loan history and complete Exit Loan Counseling.
  
  Exit Loan Counseling is required by the federal government and will explain your rights and responsibilities concerning repayment of your loans. If you have any questions, contact the Financial Aid Office at (614) 251-4778 or finaid@ohiodominican.edu.
• Contact Graduate Admissions at (614) 251-4615 to obtain information about graduate programs at Ohio Dominican University.
• Contact Alumni Relations at (614) 253-4608 to stay connected to ODU after you graduate!
• Purchase your cap and gown through the Bookstore. You can order announcements and class rings from Jostens. 
• Contact the Computer Helpdesk at (614) 253-3633 to back up your H: drive and sign up for Alumni email forwarding. Please note that your e-mail account will be disabled 60 days after graduation unless you sign up for email forwarding.
• Check the graduation website regularly for updates.

• Make sure you have taken all of your required classes. Call your Academic Advisor if you would like to review your degree requirements. You cannot graduate with any grade of an Incomplete. Your overall GPA must be a 2.0 or above for an undergraduate degree.
• Apply for graduation through ODU Online before March 31, 2015, and pay the $150 graduation fee. The application and fee are required whether you plan to attend the ceremony or not.  
• RSVP for graduation whether or not you plan to attend the Baccalaureate and/or Commencement ceremony. RSVPs are required in order to purchase a cap and gown, walk in either ceremony and to ensure that you will have tickets for commencement. The deadline is April 27, 2015. 
• Contact the Library at (614) 251-4752 to make sure all fines are paid.
• Contact Adult & Continuing Education at (614) 251-7400 to make sure you do not have any fines or fees due.
• If you are not planning to move into another Adult & Continuing Education degree program and you borrowed federal loan funds, use your Personal Identification Number (PIN, the same number used to sign the FAFSA) to access your complete federal loan history and complete Exit Loan Counseling.
  
  Exit Loan Counseling is required by the federal government and will explain your rights and responsibilities concerning repayment of your loans. If you have any questions, contact the Financial Aid Office at (614) 251-7642 or adultfinaid@ohiodominican.edu.
• Notify your advisor if you are interested in pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's degree at ODU.
• Contact Alumni Relations at (614) 253-4608 to stay connected to ODU after you graduate!
• Purchase your cap and gown through the Bookstore. You can order announcements and class rings from Jostens. 
• Contact the Computer Helpdesk at (614) 253-3633 to back up your H: drive and sign up for Alumni email forwarding. Please note that your e-mail account will be disabled 60 days after graduation unless you sign up for email forwarding.
• Keep the Adult & Continuing Education office informed of any changes to your name and address. Without the proper information we cannot get your graduation information to you.
• Check the graduation website regularly for updates.

Rehearsal is MANDATORY for all graduates.

• Date: Thursday, May 7, 2015
• Time: 5:15 p.m.
• Location: Griffin Student Center, Rooms 258/259/260

New Alumni Reception

Following graduation rehearsal, ODU's Alumni Association invites you to stay for a Welcome Reception to honor you, our newest alums!

Hors d'oeuvres and refreshments will be served in the Griffin Student Center food court.

Baccalaureate at Ohio Dominican University takes place as a Mass giving thanks for the blessings of our graduates and of prayers for their continued success in life.

• Date: Saturday, May 9, 2015
• Time: 9 a.m.
• Location: Alumni Hall

Mass includes the traditional Baccalaureate sermon and may include other ceremonies. All graduates are invited to this Mass regardless of religious background. Your presence and participation are welcome and encouraged! 

Although communion is reserved to Catholics in good standing, participation in the Scripture readings, prayers, hymns, and intercessions is considered appropriate and is encouraged. 

Graduates may wear their robes to Baccalaureate. Continental breakfast will follow the service.

Doors to Alumni Hall will re-open for Commencement at 10:30 a.m.

The Student Speaker is one of the highlights of commencement at ODU and we invite all graduating students to apply. It is a great opportunity to address your ODU classmates and their families and to share your thoughts as you begin a new phase of your life.

Selection Process

• Write your speech, usually 4-5 minutes in length when spoken, normally 2 to 2.5 pages double-spaced. 
• Submit the speech to the Academic Affairs Office, ER 240. 
• A committee of faculty will review the speeches and select the speaker. 
• Following selection, Dr. Linda Wolf will notify the student and arrange a meeting regarding the details, including rehearsal. 

Deadline

The deadline for submitting your speech for Senior Graduation Speaker at Spring Commencement is April 27, 2015.  

Questions?

For more information or if you have any questions, contact:

Linda Wolf, PhD 
Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs
(614) 251-4715
wolfl2@ohiodominican.edu

Make your graduation day picture perfect!

Caps, gowns, hoods, and tassels can be purchased from ODU's Bookstore.

The deadline to purchase regalia is April 10. If purchasing after this date, you may incur a $25 rush shipping fee. 

• Undergraduate packages (cap, gown, tassel) are $46.00 plus tax.  
• Master's packages (cap, gown, hood, tassel) are $98.00 plus tax.  

Items are also available individually. Call the Bookstore at (614) 251-4545 for pricing.   

The Bookstore accepts cash, check (with valid id), and credit cards. Please bring your RSVP email confirmation as caps and gowns are non-returnable. 

We recommend that caps and gowns be steamed or pressed with a cool iron prior to the ceremony.

Hoods & Tassels

Please be aware of the colors of your hood and tassel when purchasing them from the bookstore.  

Tassels worn during graduation reflects a graduate’s discipline. The color and design indicate the graduate's degree and the institution that is granting it. 

The hood is lined with the colors of the university (for Ohio Dominican, white and gold) and is faced with a color indicating the discipline of study. Hoods are worn only by those earning a Master's degree. 

Degree	Hood	Tassel
Master of Arts (Theology)	Scarlet	Scarlet
Master of Arts	White	White
Master of Business Administration	Drab (Brown)	Drab (Brown)
Master of Science	Gold	Gold
Master of Education	Light Blue	Light Blue
Bachelor of Arts	N/A	White
Bachelor of Science	N/A	Gold
Bachelor of Science in Education	N/A	Light Blue
Associate of Arts	N/A	Black
Associate of Science	N/A	Black

For information on Class Rings and Graduation Announcements, visit Jostens.

A Josten’s representative will be on campus on April 13 and 14 from 1 - 6 p.m. at a table by the Bookstore in the Griffin Center.

Order forms and ring pamphlets are also available in the ODU Bookstore. 

Please order graduation announcements at least of 4 weeks prior to your intended mail date.

It is recommended that announcements be mailed to friends and relatives at least 10 days prior to the event.