With the end of the year approaching, undergraduate seniors get to choose between commencement and convocation ceremonies. Previous undergraduate alumni reflect on their choices of attending commencement and convocation ceremonies to celebrate the completion of their degrees.

Abbie Suntken, an assistant registrar for certifications and eligibility, described the differences between commencement and convocation.

Commencement is a university-led event held in the spring that consists of larger and longer ceremonies for graduate and undergraduate students that last around 2 to 2.5 hours.

“At these events, typically students have their name read, they walk across the stage and this is where they receive a diploma cover or tube,” Suntken said. “There’s speakers, all that good stuff.”

In addition, each college holds its own convocation (or, for the College of Engineering, a reception).

“Convocations are smaller events that are put on by the individual colleges,” Suntken said. “Because there’s less students, there typically tends to be a little more personalization that the colleges do.”

Bryn Miller, a spring 2024 graduate of kinesiology and health, said one of the biggest factors in choosing between commencement and convocation was being with her friends.

“Most of my friends were in kinesiology with me,” Miller said. “I had met them throughout college and was friends with them. One of the biggest things for me was I wanted to be with my friends.”

Another factor in Miller’s decision was knowing her grandparents would be in attendance.

“My convocation was like an hour and a half and I was able to be done with it, so that was a huge thing with my grandparents coming,” Miller said. “I wasn’t going to make them sit through a three hour event with 300 people where they didn’t know anyone besides me.”

Like commencement, the Health and Human Sciences convocation is also held in Hilton Coliseum, and seating was similar to commencement, Miller said.

“It was still the whole experience,” Miller said. “As far as seating, it was in Hilton, so it made the same feel and attendance was pretty good. It was a lot of people.”

Being in the smaller environment gave Miller the familiarity of being surrounded by friends and former classmates.

“There were a lot of people from my classes that all went,” Miller said. “There were some that wanted the big experience of commencement but as far as my friend group, we all did convocation together, so that was what was important to me.”

Conner Trznadel, a senior in finance and a spring 2024 graduate in mechanical engineering, said he attended both commencement and the mechanical engineering reception.

“I would say that commencement is more so your parents and family can see you round out your degree,” Trznadel said. “If you want to get that recognition, maybe meet Wendy Wintersteen, commencement is great for that.”

Despite the length of the ceremony, Trznadel described commencement as the cherry on top of his academic journey.

“It’s the sum of everything that you have done throughout the last four years,” Trznadel said. “It’s important to get that final recognition and walk the stage. It’s like putting the bow on top of the present when you’re wrapping things up here.”

Another difference between commencement and the College of Engineering receptions, specifically, is the attire that is worn.

“Commencement is all of the graduation attire, cap, gown, stole, all that fun stuff, but convocation was more business professional,” Trznadel said. “Everyone was wearing dress pants and a button down or a dress, whatever the preferences were.”

Trznadel said that the convocation was a much more personalized experience.

“The rest of my family attended, and as I was walking, they gave a personalized message that I had chosen for those in attendance for me,” Trznadel said.

Trznadel said the personal nature of convocation makes it an ideal place to thank your support network.

“If you have a support network or a group of people who you are coming to see you graduate, the convocation is a good way to essentially thank them for all their support throughout the last four years,” Trznadel said.

Trznadel said he enjoyed participating in convocation, but this year, he only plans to attend commencement.

“It’s a much smaller event, in my opinion, less people but very personal and very fun,” Trznadel said. “I enjoyed it, but I think it’s something that I’d only do once, hence why I’m not doing it this year.”

Seniors can register for commencement and their convocations or receptions within the RSVP system that the office of the registrar manages. For more information on commencement, visit the graduation and commencement website. For more information on convocations and receptions, visit this website.

Spring 2025 Commencement Ceremonies:

• Graduate Ceremony
• Veterinary Medicine Ceremony
• Undergraduate Ceremony 1
  • College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
  • Ivy College of Business
• Undergraduate Ceremony 2
  • College of Design
  • College of Engineering
• Undergraduate Ceremony 3
  • College of Health and Human Sciences
  • College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Spring 2025 Convocations and Receptions:

• College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
• Ivy College of Business
• College of Design
• College of Engineering
• College of Health and Human Sciences
• College of Liberal Arts and Sciences