Commencement at Aquinas College

□ March 16, 2026: Order Commencement Regalia

Order your cap, gown, hood, and tassel from Herff Jones by March 16, 2026, for shipping to campus for pickup at GradFest. You must wear a cap, gown, hood, and tassel to walk at Commencement. After March 16, order through the AQ Bookstore. More details here. 

□ Date TBD: Volunteer for Liturgical Service
You are invited to attend the Baccalaureate Mass and volunteer for a liturgical role, such as lector or gift bearer. A registration form will be available soon.

□ Date TBD: Submit Special Accommodation Form

If you have a guest who needs special accommodations for the commencement ceremony, please fill out the Accommodation Request Form for your guests. Form coming soon.

□ April 1, 2026: Complete the Graduation Legacy Survey

All graduates are encouraged to fill out the 2026 Legacy Survey. It helps us identify students with a familial relationship to Aquinas. We would like to honor students whose parents, grandparents, and/or great-grandparents have graduated from Aquinas College. The college will supply Legacy cords to those students and distribute them at GradFest.

□ April 12, 2026: Get your Advantage Center Honor Cord

If you participated in an approved experiential learning activity (internships, practicums, student teaching, study away sessions, and various research experiences) at Aquinas. In that case, you qualify for an Advantage Center Honor Cord to wear at the Commencement Ceremony.  Please complete the form by April 12, 2026.

□ April 13, 2026: Attend GradFest

Cap and gown orders shipped to campus will be available for pickup at GradFest on April 13, 2026, from 12 to 2 p.m. or 5 to 7 p.m. in the Wege Ballroom. Ticket pickup is also available at this event.

□ April 29, 2026: Submit Thank-You Messages

Submit a thank-you message to family, friends, mentors, faculty, coaches, or others. Messages and photos will be displayed on the video screen before the Commencement ceremony. Please complete this by April 29, 2026. 

□ April 29, 2026: Submit Name Pronunciation Form

Please tell us how your name should be pronounced at commencement.

□ May 7, 2026: Update Permanent/Diploma Shipping Address

Provide the Registrar’s Office with your updated address before leaving AQ. Address updates can be made through the Self Service Graduation Application or by contacting the Registrar's Office.

□ May 7, 2026: Complete Exit Loan Counseling

If you borrowed a Federal Loan while attending Aquinas, you must complete an exit counseling session. If you are graduating in May but student teaching in the fall, you must complete exit counseling by the end of the fall semester. Visit https://studentaid.gov/ to complete exit counseling and learn about your loan servicer and repayment information.

□ May 7, 2026: Attend Toast to the Tassel

The Aquinas Alumni Association celebrates your accomplishments with Toast to the Tassel -- a fun event just for graduates. Plan to attend on Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Holmdene from 6-8 p.m. 

□ May 8, 2026: Senior Award Ceremony

Students who are being honored with a Senior Award should plan to attend on May 8, 2026, 7-9 p.m. in Wege Ballroom.

□ May 9, 2026: Pre-register with GradImages for Graduation Photos

2026 information coming soon.

□ May 9, 2026: Baccalaureate Mass

Baccalaureate Mass is held at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew, 301 Sheldon Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI, starting at 10 a.m.

□ May 9, 2026: Class of 2026 Commencement Ceremony

The ceremony will be at Sturrus Sports and Fitness Center, 1700 Fulton St. E, Grand Rapids, MI, starting at 2 p.m.

 □ May 9, 2026: Academic Department Gatherings

After the commencement ceremony, we invite all our graduates, along with their friends and family, to attend academic department gatherings across campus.