Baccalaureate Service - Undergraduate Candidates

The Baccalaureate Service is a religious ceremony held the Friday evening before May Commencement Convocation in McFarlin Auditorium. This is a small and intimate service that features a special sermon for undergraduate candidates and their guests. The service will last approximately one hour.

Wearing full regalia candidates process into McFarlin Auditorium and are seated together. Weather permitting, students are lined up on the Historic Main Quadrangle in the order of their arrival. In the event of rain, candidates will be seated directly upon arrival.

Additionally, seating in McFarlin Auditorium is very limited; therefore, candidates are entitled to two guest tickets only. Additional tickets for the Baccalaureate Service are not available. Guests without tickets may fill any remaining seats beginning at 7:30 p.m. The ceremony is simulcast in the Hughes-Trigg Theater.

For detailed information and instructions:
Graduating Candidates Guests Faculty

Rotunda Recessional

The Rotunda Recessional will follow the Baccalaureate Service. Undergraduate candidates, led by faculty and alumni marshals, will march through the front doors of Dallas Hall, through the Rotunda and around to the quad. This tradition welcomes graduates into their new phase of membership of the SMU community - their life as alumni.

One of the University's most symbolic traditions is Rotunda Passage, which includes both a processional and a recessional. The processional occurs before Opening Convocation, held the day before their first day of classes as a first-year. Students process through the back of Dallas Hall, through the Rotunda and onto the quad as a new member of the SMU student body. This tradition is concluded with the Rotunda Recessional following the Baccalaureate Service during Commencement Weekend. Rotunda Recessional is a symbolic departure from campus and a welcome as the newest members of the SMU Alumni family.

Alumni who are parents of graduating seniors are welcome to participate as marshals for Baccalaureate, please contact Mindy Rowland at 214-768-4741.

Commencement Convocation

On Saturday morning, the all-University May Commencement Convocation assembles degree candidates from all of SMU's schools and professional programs. The ceremony takes place on the Historic Main Quadrangle, which is transformed by the pageantry. Students and faculty, dressed in academic regalia, march to the ceremony to grand, processional music.

Doctoral candidates and honorary degree recipients are hooded, Commencement speakers impart knowledge unto our newest class of candidates and President Turner confers degrees. At the conclusion of the ceremony, "Varsity" is played and a prayer is said for the recently appointed alumni.

The ceremony lasts approximately one hour and a half. For guests who are unable to attend, the ceremony will be simulcast live at http://smu.edu/live.

For detailed information and instructions:
Graduating Candidates Guests Faculty

Diploma Presentation Ceremonies

Wearing full academic regalia, graduates are individually recognized in school or departmental ceremonies.

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