We recommend that students submit an application for graduation during the semester prior to when their degree will be complete. We invite you to apply on the registrar’s website. 

Tickets are not required. However, due to capacity limitations at the venue, we ask that all candidates be mindful of their number of guests in attendance. This will ensure everyone has an enjoyable experience and that there are seats available for all. All seats are general admission, seating is first-come, first-seated and there are no reserved seats. We will live stream the ceremony and provide a live stream link on the homepage on the day of the event.

The deadline to order your regalia online has passed, however you can visit the Laker Store in person to inquire about purchasing regalia.

We want all of our graduating Lakers to celebrate their accomplishments during Commencement. If you’re experiencing any financial barriers to purchasing regalia that may prevent you from attending the ceremony, please contact [email protected]

Students participating in Commencement will receive a diploma cover at the ceremony. If a student is unable to attend the ceremony and would like a diploma cover, they can contact the Registrar’s Office at [email protected].

Land Acknowledgement

At a significant University event like Commencement, we have an opportunity to offer appreciation to those who were stewards of the land on which our beautiful campus was built, long before most of our ancestors arrived. As an institution committed to diversity, inclusion and equity, Grand Valley recognizes the Three Fires People, who include the Ojibwa, the Odawa, and the Potawatomi, on whose ancestral lands we now live and work.

Read Grand Valley's land acknowledgement