Student Information

The 2025-2026 Commencement Ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at a time to be announced in the Karl H. Weaner Community Center and is located at 1100 Webster St. Defiance, OH.

Practice

Practice is mandatory for undergraduate students and highly encouraged for graduate students. Practice will be on Thursday, May 7th at a time to be announced in the Weaner Center, 1100 Webster Street. Should you have an exam during the practice, the exam takes precedence.

Graduate students that cannot make the practice, will be emailed with ceremony instructions.

Cap and Gown (Academic Regalia) and Attire for Graduating Students

Graduates will be notified when the cap and gown are available for pickup from the Registrar’s Office in the Pilgrim Library. Regalia is ordered for students based on the degree that they will earn and the height/weight that was listed on the graduation application. Graduating students have paid for their cap and gown (and hood for master’s graduates) through the graduation application fee – this fee was charged to the student’s account when the graduation application was submitted. Thus, no money will need to be brought to the Registrar’s Office to pick up regalia.

Full academic regalia is required to participate in the ceremony. Only approved cords, medallions and stoles will be accepted to wear with regalia. The following attire is suggested:

• Tassel placement: Candidates for bachelor’s degrees will place the tassel on the right side of the mortar board. Following the awarding of the degree, the President will instruct the graduates to move the tassel to the left side.
  Candidates for graduate degrees will place the tassel on the left side of the mortar board.  Those receiving graduate degrees do not move their tassel.
• Mortar board: Should be worn squarely on the top of the head, board parallel to the floor, and not slanted toward the sides, forward or back.
• Master’s degree hoods: Master’s degree graduates will be hooded during the ceremony.
• Honor Cords: All cords will be distributed to students at Honors Convocation. Students who are unable to attend Honors Convocation will receive their cords at Regalia pickup. Cords should be draped around the neck with the tassels hanging as evenly as possible in the front.
• Miscellaneous: Please wear items that are celebratory and dignified (cap, gown, cords, medallions, stoles) so that Commencement is distraction free for everyone attending.

Prior to the Commencement Ceremony, please try on your cap and gown to ensure that the fit is correct and that you have a cap, gown, and tassel for the ceremony. It is the responsibility of the graduate to wear the appropriate attire. Gowns will be wrinkled so removing them from the bag to hang or iron before the ceremony is highly recommended.

Graduation Honors

Graduation honors are open to those earning a baccalaureate degree that have achieved a 3.50 or higher cumulative GPA after earning at least 45 hours in residence at Defiance College. To be formerly recognized during Commencement, students must qualify for honors by the end of the fall semester prior to the May Commencement. However, students who earn the grade point average by the end of their degree programs will also receive the notation on their transcripts and may, upon request, have it noted on their diplomas.

Graduation honors are at the following levels:

• Cum laude: 3.50-3.69 cumulative GPA
• Magna cum laude: 3.7-3.89 cumulative GPA
• Summa cum laude: 3.9-4.0 cumulative GPA

Graduation honors are not awarded for associate or master’s degrees.

Diplomas

Graduates attending Commencement will receive a diploma case when they walk across the presenting stage during the Commencement program. Not all cases will contain a diploma, only those of May graduates who have fulfilled their academic and financial responsibilities will receive their diplomas.

Students who applied and were approved for December or August graduation have already or will receive their diplomas by mail if and when all academic and financial obligations are met.

If you attend the ceremony but do not receive a diploma, it will be mailed after all academic and financial obligations are completed. Notification of any missing requirements will be sent via email.

Students graduating in absentia (not attending Commencement) will be mailed their diploma and case after the Commencement Ceremony. Those preferring to pick up their diploma instead of having it mailed, should contact the Registrar’s Office by email.