Graduate Information

Make sure you have taken, or are taking, all of your required classes and will have all of the required credit hours prior your desired date of graduation in May, August or December. Contact your Academic Advisor or the Registrar’s Office if you would like to review your degree requirements.

• Apply to graduate here through ODU Online.

Deadlines to apply to graduate:

May graduates—March 31
August graduates—August 1
December graduates—Oct. 31

Apply to Graduate

Please contact the Registrar’s Office (registrar@ohiodominican.edu) if you have questions.

Are you graduating in Summer 2022, Fall 2022 or Spring 2023? RSVP now to let us know your plans for May 6!

Please 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.

You can RSVP for the 2023 Baccalaureate and Commencement if you are graduating in any of the following semesters: Summer 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023.

Click Here to RSVP

The RSVP deadline to participate in the May 2023 graduation ceremony is April 25, 2023.

Please contact the Registrar’s Office (registrar@ohiodominican.edu) for late applications or RSVPs.

If you have any questions regarding the status of your RSVP, contact the Registrar's Office at registrar@ohiodominican.edu.

Tickets to Commencement will be made available in late April 2023. Graduates must first RSVP to participate in Commencement to reserve tickets. If you have not already let us know your plans for May 6, click here to RSVP.

If you have any questions, please email the Registrar’s Office at registrar@ohiodominican.edu.

The first thing you need to do is apply to graduate through ODU Online (see the above section for link and details). Additionally, here are some important things to take care of before you leave Ohio Dominican.  

• 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 FSA ID 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 Alumni Relations at (614) 253-3502 or alumnioffice@ohiodominican.edu to stay connected to ODU after you graduate!
• Contact Graduate Admission at (614) 251-4615 to obtain information about graduate programs at Ohio Dominican University.
• 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.
• Take the outcomes survey. Recent graduate outcomes data is required by the federal government. We must survey our recent graduates when they graduate plus 3, 6 and 12 months after graduation. Information about job placement and graduate school rates helps the Career Development Center provide high quality career services and allows us to assist students still seeking employment. 
• Keep the Registrar's Office informed of any changes to your name and address.

Diplomas will we mailed to graduates who complete degree requirements.

Make your graduation day picture perfect!

Caps, gowns, hoods, and tassels can be purchased from ohdominican.shopoakhalli.com.

Items are also available individually. Visit ohdominican.shopoakhalli.com or call (800) 223-0429 for pricing.

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

How can I purchase regalia?
Visit the regalia website ohdominican.shopoakhalli.com. A limited supply of regalia and souvenirs are available from bookstore. Please call or email for store orders.

Can I still order graduation announcements or class rings?
Yes, our partners at Balfour are still available for announcement and ring orders at balfour.com.

Can I still order diploma frames, gifts, or spirit gear?
Yes, the bookstore website is still open we are processing orders daily.

Have additional questions? Contact us:

• 614-251-4545

 

Graduates, save the date for Spring Commencement rehearsal. Participation is mandatory for all graduates.  

• Date: Thursday, May 4, 2023
• Time: 5:15 p.m.
• Location: Meet in lower level, Griffin Student Center

Rehearsal for Spring Commencement will take place on Thursday, May 4. Please plan on meeting in the lower level of the Griffin Student Center at 5:15 p.m. Once everyone is lined up, we’ll walk to the stadium. Following the rehearsal, Grad Bash will take place in the concourse in Panther Stadium from 6 - 8 p.m.

Panthers, celebrate your upcoming graduation with your fellow graduates during Grad Bash, which will take place in the concourse in Panther Stadium from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, May 4, immediately following the Commencement rehearsal.

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 6, 2023
• Time: 9 a.m.
• Location: Matesich Theatre, 2nd Floor Erskine Hall

Advance registration and ticket reservation are not required for Baccalaureate attendance. Food and beverages are not permitted in the theater.

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.

• Date: Saturday, May 6, 2023
• Time: 11 a.m.
• Location: Panther Stadium

Parking for Baccalaureate and Commencement will be available in the GOLD Parking Lot as well as along Panther Parkway. Please follow all directional signage as well as the direction of ODU Public Safety and Columbus Division of Police officers.

The Gold Lot is accessed from the light at Sunbury Rd and St. Dominic way, and is on the West side of Sunbury Rd.

• Get Google Map directions to the Gold Lot
  
   
• View the campus map to see where buildings and appropriate parking is located.
• View driving directions to Ohio Dominican.  

All three south gates at Panther Stadium will open at 10:15 a.m. and seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests will be required to show their ticket upon entrance. Commencement will begin promptly at 11 a.m.

Commencement will take place inside Panther Stadium rain or shine. Seating on the field can tend to run about 10 degrees warmer than in the stands, so please dress and prepare accordingly. To ensure that you do not block the view of others in the event of inclement weather, umbrellas will not be permitted inside the stadium. Instead, the university will provide plastic rain ponchos should the need arise. The Griffin Student Center will serve as a shelter in the event of severe weather.

To help ensure that safe social distancing is maintained throughout the event, please remain in your seat at all times, and do not approach the stage to take photos. A professional photographer has been hired and you will be provided photos to consider purchasing following the event. You are welcome to take photos from your seat.

You will be permitted to bring bottled water and light snacks into the stadium. Bottles of water also will be available.

Please keep in mind that the artificial field turf in Panther Stadium can be difficult to walk on, so we encourage you to not wear shoes that have high heels that could potentially become caught on the field material. We recommend that you wear flat-bottomed shoes to mitigate any tripping hazard.

If you need any last-minute items or regalia for Commencement, ODU’s Bookstore is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Fridays. The Bookstore also will be open on the day of Commencement immediately prior to and following the ceremony.

Subconnection in the Griffin Student Center will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the day of Commencement.