commencement.wayne.edu
WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
COMMENCEMENT GUIDE
Informaon and instrucons for
graduates, families and guests
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Thursday, May 2, 2024
Friday, May 3, 2024
Wayne State Fieldhouse
1290 W. Warren Avenue, Detroit
CONTENTS
CEREMONY SCHEDULE .....................................................................................1
ACADEMIC REGALIA ........................................................................................... 2
COMMENCEMENT EXTRAS .............................................................................3
Announcements, rings and diploma frames ........................................................................................3
Honors collars and cords .........................................................................................................................3
TICKETS AND SEATING ......................................................................................4
Graduate ckets ........................................................................................................................................4
Guest ckets ..............................................................................................................................................4
WAYNE STATE FIELDHOUSE DIRECTIONS AND PARKING ..................5
Direcons ...................................................................................................................................................5
Parking.........................................................................................................................................................5
Accessible parking ....................................................................................................................................5
Trac ...........................................................................................................................................................5
GRADUATION DAY ............................................................................................... 6
Arrival mes and graduate entry ...........................................................................................................6
Name announcement card .....................................................................................................................6
Graduate seang .......................................................................................................................................6
Degree processional .................................................................................................................................7
Physically challenged graduates ............................................................................................................7
GUEST INFORMATION ........................................................................................ 8
Prohibited items ........................................................................................................................................8
Guest seang .............................................................................................................................................8
Wheelchair/mobility-limitaon seang ...............................................................................................9
Interpreng services ................................................................................................................................9
Flowers ........................................................................................................................................................9
First aid..................................................................................................................................................... 10
Program book distribuon ................................................................................................................... 10
CEREMONY INFORMATION .......................................................................... 11
Commencement equee ................................................................................................................... 11
The ceremony ......................................................................................................................................... 11
Announcing of graduate names .......................................................................................................... 11
Diploma processional march ............................................................................................................... 11
Graduate photographs .......................................................................................................................... 12
Recessional .............................................................................................................................................. 12
Meeng aer the ceremony ................................................................................................................ 12
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ........................................................................ 13
Program book ......................................................................................................................................... 13
Disncon and honors ......................................................................................................................... 13
Degree status .......................................................................................................................................... 14
Financial obligaons .............................................................................................................................. 14
Duplicate copy of diploma ................................................................................................................... 14
Lodging ..................................................................................................................................................... 15
QUESTIONS .......................................................................................................... 15
CAMPUS MAP ..................................................................................................... 16
NOTES .................................................................................................................... 17
MESSAGE FROM THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ...................................... 18
Graduates,
Congratulaons on your graduaon from Wayne State
University! It's almost me to celebrate your academic
achievements with your family and guests at the May
2024 commencement ceremonies.
Commencement provides the university an opportunity
to recognize the accomplishments of its graduates and
share in the excitement with faculty, administraon, sta,
fellow graduates, and family and guests.
Commencement is an excing and memorable occasion
for all of our graduates, but it is also a solemn one.
Leaving before the ceremony has ended is disrespecul
to others. Graduates and their guests are expected to
remain for the enre ceremony. The last graduate to
cross the stage should expect to receive the same honor
as the rst, so please show consideraon by remaining
seated unl the conclusion of the ceremony.
The informaon included here will assist you in preparing
for your special day. This guide includes important
instrucons for you, your family and your guests. Please
read the guide carefully to ensure your milestone event is
a joyous and memorable one.
Congratulaons and best of luck on your future
endeavors!
Ofce of University Commencement
commencement.wayne.edu 1
CEREMONY SCHEDULE
Wayne State Fieldhouse
1290 W. Warren Avenue, Detroit
Doors to the Wayne State Fieldhouse will open
90 minutes before each ceremony.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2024
Ceremony I – 10 a.m.
Ph.D., Ed.D. hooding
THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2024
Ceremony II – 9 a.m.
CLAS (sciences)
Ceremony III – 2 p.m.
CLAS (arts)
Ceremony IV – 7 p.m.
College of Educaon
College of Fine, Performing and
Communicaon Arts
School of Informaon Sciences
School of Medicine (master's)
FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2024
Ceremony V – 10 a.m.
College of Nursing
School of Social Work
Ceremony VI – 2 p.m.
Mike Ilitch School of Business
Ceremony VII – 7 p.m.
College of Engineering
Eugene Applebaum College of
Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Note: Walking in commencement does not
constute graduaon or guarantee
that you will receive your diploma.
Check with your school or college
advisor to conrm all degree
requirements have been met.
2 2024 Commencement Guide
All graduates must wear academic regalia for their ceremony. Oak Hall is
the ocial university vendor for all caps and gowns. Caps and gowns may
be purchased at the WSU Bookstore or at waynestate.shopoakhalli.com.
Please check the site for the online order due date.
BACHELOR’S AND MASTER’S CANDIDATES
The bachelor’s cap and gown is $78.98 plus tax. The master’s gown, cap
and hood is $131.96 plus tax.
DOCTORAL CANDIDATES
Doctoral degree candidates (Pharm.D./Aud.D./DPT/DNP) wear doctoral
regalia that may be purchased through the WSU Bookstore. The regalia
includes doctoral black gown, doctoral hood and tam. The cost for
doctoral regalia is $247.94 plus tax.
PH.D./ED.D. CANDIDATES
Ph.D./Ed.D. candidates wear regalia that must be rented through the
WSU Bookstore. The regalia includes a custom Wayne State University
gown, hood and tam. The graduate may keep the tam. The rental fee for
Ph.D./Ed.D. regalia is $225 plus tax.
The bookstore will inform Ph.D./Ed.D. candidates of the due date for all
rented regalia. Place orders as soon as possible to ensure mely delivery
of regalia and avoid addional shipping charges.
Regalia may be purchased or rented at the WSU Bookstore during normal
business hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.
to 5 p.m.; closed Saturday and Sunday. The bookstore accepts cash, check,
credit card and OneCard. Call the bookstore at 313-577-2436 with
any quesons.
ACADEMIC REGALIA
commencement.wayne.edu 3
ANNOUNCEMENTS, RINGS AND DIPLOMA FRAMES
Announcements and class rings may be ordered from Jostens (jostens.com)
or Her Jones (herones.com). Diploma frames may also be purchased at
the WSU Bookstore.
HONORS COLLARS AND CORDS
Students who qualify for departmental or university honors will receive a
special gold collar to wear with their cap and gown. Students compleng
the graduaon requirements for the Community of Scholars will receive
a blue cord to wear with their cap and gown. The Irvin D. Reid Honors
College will nofy you if you have met the criteria to receive either
disncon. Please contact the college at [email protected] if you have
any quesons. The Commencement Oce does not issue honors collars
or cords.
COMMENCEMENT EXTRAS
4 2024 Commencement Guide
TICKETS AND SEATING
Guest ckets will be available through an online cket ordering system.
Eligible graduates will receive the ordering informaon and link in mid-
March. Be sure to check your Wayne State email for the informaon.
GRADUATE TICKETS
All graduates parcipang in commencement will receive their cket the
day of the event at check-in.
GUEST TICKETS
Tickets are required for all guests aending commencement. Each
eligible student may receive four guest ckets. Addional ckets are
not available. Tickets must be presented for entry to the eldhouse. All
guests must have a cket, no maer the age. Guests will not be admied
without a cket. Guest seang is on a rst-come, rst-served basis.
Please note: Strollers, car seats and infant carriers are not allowed in
the eldhouse.
commencement.wayne.edu 5
DIRECTIONS
The Wayne State Fieldhouse is located at 1290 W. Warren Avenue, Detroit.
From the west: Take I-94 east. Exit at Trumbull Avenue. Connue straight
on Service Drive, then right on Warren Avenue.
From the east: Take I-94 west. Exit at Woodward/Brush avenues. Remain
on Ford Service Drive to Woodward Avenue. Turn le on Woodward
Avenue, going south to Warren Avenue. Turn right onto Warren Avenue.
Connue west on Warren Avenue to Lodge Freeway (M-10) overpass.
From the north: Take I-75 south to Warren Avenue exit. Turn right onto
Warren Avenue. Connue west on Warren Avenue to Lodge Freeway (M-
10) overpass.
From the south: Take I-75 north to Lodge Freeway (M-10) north. Exit at
Forest/Warren avenues. Turn le onto Warren Avenue (second light). Cross
over Lodge Freeway.
From Windsor: Start out on northeast on Fort Street West/M-3 toward
St. Anne Street (1.2 miles). Turn le onto Lodge Freeway (M-10) North
(1.5 miles). Exit at Forest/Warren avenues. Turn le onto Warren Avenue
(second light).
PARKING
Complimentary parking will be available in Lot 50, located at 1200 W.
Warren Avenue, and Structure 2, located at 5150 John C. Lodge.
ACCESSIBLE PARKING
A limited number of handicapped parking spaces are available on a rst-
come, rst-served basis in Lot 50. A handicapped license plate or hangtag
is required to access these spaces.
All parking is on a rst-come, rst-served basis.
TRAFFIC
Expect busier-than-usual condions on the freeways and surface streets
on campus before and aer the ceremony. You are encouraged to arrive
early to reduce trac congeson.
WAYNE STATE FIELDHOUSE
DIRECTIONS AND PARKING
6 2024 Commencement Guide
GRADUATION DAY
ARRIVAL TIMES AND GRADUATE ENTRY
Graduates must arrive one hour before the ceremony start me and
report to the Mahaei Physical Educaon Center for a graduate cket.
Graduates should arrive in their academic regalia (cap and gown). Be sure
to wear the tassel you were issued with your cap and gown; tassels are
color-coded to signify the college/school granng the degree. Tassels
should be on the right side for graduates receiving bachelor’s degrees.
Master’s and doctoral candidates should have their tassels on the le,
signifying their previous degree or degrees.
Please dress appropriately and wear comfortable footwear. As a safety
precauon, spiked or high-heeled shoes are not recommended, as you will
be walking on cement and will need to ascend and descend stairs during
the ceremony. Please note, there is a “no-bag” policy at the eldhouse —
leave coats, handbags and all valuables at home or with your guests.
NAME ANNOUNCEMENT CARD
Upon arrival at Mahaei, graduates will be given a name announcement
card with a QR code, which they will hand to sta during the diploma
processional across the stage. You will then be directed to the eldhouse
and your school/college seang area.
GRADUATE SEATING
Graduates will be seated according to college, school and degree. There
is no rehearsal prior to the ceremony. All graduates must be in Mahaei
45 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony to receive important
instrucons and direcons. If you arrive late, you may not be seated with
your school/college and may be seated in the overow seang secon of
the eldhouse. Please arrive on me.
commencement.wayne.edu 7
DEGREE PROCESSIONAL
The processional from graduates’ seats to the eldhouse stage will begin
aer the degree conferral. Marshals will direct graduates to the stage.
Aer proceeding across the stage, graduates should return to their
assigned seats. Graduates are required to remain for the enre ceremony.
PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED GRADUATES
If you will need assistance ascending and descending the stage during the
ceremony, please contact the Commencement Oce at 313-577-0300.
GRADUATION DAY
8 2024 Commencement Guide
GUEST INFORMATION
PROHIBITED ITEMS
The following items are not permied in the Wayne State Fieldhouse:
• Weapons of any kind (this includes weapons accompanied by a valid
CPL permit and pocket knives)
• Aerosol cans (hair spray, mace, pepper spray, etc.)
• All bags and purses
• Backpacks, luggage, grocery bags, large camera cases
• Balloons (air or helium)
• Balls (beach balls, footballs, baseballs, etc.)
• Banners
• Cameras with lenses longer than ve inches
• Coolers of any kind, including small, so-pack coolers
• Food, beverages or liquid (cans, boles or boxes)
• Laser pointers
• Noisemaking devices (balls, horns, kazoos, whistles, etc.)
• Strollers and infant/car seats or carriers
• Umbrellas
• Ulity tools
The Wayne State Fieldhouse reserves the right to expand or modify the
list of prohibited items at any me. This policy is strictly enforced.
GUEST SEATING
Guests should enter the eldhouse at the main entrance. Guest seang
is open and available on a rst-come, rst-served basis. Seats may not
be saved. Please have everyone in your party arrive at the same me.
University sta will assist guests with seang. All guests should be seated
30 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony and are expected to remain
for the enre ceremony.
commencement.wayne.edu 9
GUEST INFORMATION
WHEELCHAIR/MOBILITY-LIMITATION SEATING
The eldhouse has limited wheelchair seang. Guests arriving in a
wheelchair should ask a sta member for assistance to the special needs
seang area.
Guests with mobility limitaons or who have diculty walking are
encouraged to bring their own wheelchair. The university does not
provide wheelchairs for guests.
Every eort will be made to seat guests together; however, disability
seang is limited and, due to space constraints, an escort may not be able
to accompany the guest to the special seang area.
INTERPRETING SERVICES
Sign language interpreters will be provided during the ceremonies.
Interpreters will not sign individual names during the diploma march.
FLOWERS
Commencement Flowers will have oral bouquets and gis for
your special graduate available for sale on the main concourse.
You may pre-order oral bouquets and a commemorave T-shirt at
thecommencementgroup.com/waynestate for pickup on
commencement day.
10 2024 Commencement Guide
GUEST INFORMATION
FIRST AID
First aid is available during all ceremonies. Please contact a sta member
if assistance is needed.
PROGRAM BOOK DISTRIBUTION
Program books will be available at seang entrances for guests. Graduates
will receive a program book as they are seated.
commencement.wayne.edu 11
COMMENCEMENT ETIQUETTE
Commencement is an excing and memorable occasion for all graduates,
but it is also a solemn one. Leaving before the ceremony has ended is
disrupve and disrespecul to others. Graduates and their guests are
expected to remain for the enre ceremony.
The last graduate to cross the stage should expect to receive the same
honor as the rst, so please show consideraon for all graduates by
remaining seated unl the conclusion of the ceremony.
Please refrain from excessive talking, cheering, use of noisemakers and
other distracons as this takes away from the dignity of the ceremony.
Cellphones, beepers and watches with alarms can also be distracng.
Out of respect for all graduates and guests, please switch any and all of
your electronic equipment to silent, vibrate or o.
THE CEREMONY
Each ceremony will feature greengs by university ocials, a student
speaker, the conferral of degrees and the diploma processional across
the stage.
ANNOUNCING OF GRADUATE NAMES
Graduates’ names will be announced during the diploma processional across
the stage. Name pronunciaon cards will be given to each graduate upon
arrival at Mahaei.
DIPLOMA PROCESSIONAL MARCH
Each graduate is presented with a special diploma cover during the
diploma march. Bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral diplomas are mailed
approximately four to six weeks aer degrees have been cered. Ph.D./
Ed.D. graduates are presented with their diplomas at the ceremony.
CEREMONY INFORMATION
12 2024 Commencement Guide
CEREMONY INFORMATION
GRADUATE PHOTOGRAPHS
Grad Images, the ocial university commencement photographer, will
be at commencement to take graduate
photos during the ceremony. You will receive
informaon from them by email and by
mail. Find out more about their services at
gradimages.com.
RECESSIONAL
Following the ceremonial recognion of the graduates, the plaorm party
and faculty will leave the eldhouse during the recessional march. Graduates
and guests should remain seated unl they have exited the eldhouse.
The commencement emcee will dismiss graduates and guests.
MEETING AFTER THE CEREMONY
Communicate with your guests where to meet aer the ceremony. We
highly recommend you choose to meet outside or at a locaon with which
you all are familiar.
commencement.wayne.edu 13
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
PROGRAM BOOK
The graduate’s name will appear in the program book as it was typed or
wrien on the degree applicaon. There will be no program reprints to
accommodate incorrect spelling or missing names because of late degree
applicaons. Due to publicaon deadlines, names and honors added to
or changed on the graduaon list aer March 10 will not appear in the
program book.
Student names were submied for the program book by their school or
college. If a student’s name does not appear in the program book, they
should contact their school or college degree coordinator or the Oce of
Records at 313-577-3531 to verify graduaon eligibility.
DISTINCTION AND HONORS
Wayne State University bestows upon students compleng the
baccalaureate degree three separate designaons for scholasc
excellence reected in the cumulave honor point average. Graduaon
With Disncon recognizes the top 20% of students in each college/
school who have earned the highest honor point average: summa cum
laude (top 5%), magna cum laude (next 5%) and cum laude (next 10%).
To be eligible for consideraon, students must have accumulated 56 or
more hours in residence at Wayne State University. Graduaon With
Disncon will be noted in the program book as well as indicated on the
student’s diploma and on the transcript. This pracce is observed at the
undergraduate level only. If you have any quesons, please contact your
academic advisor.
Students who have achieved disncon by compleng the requirements
for department and/or university honors are designated in the program
book by (DH) for department honors and/or (UH) for university honors.
Students graduang with honors conferred by departments, schools and
colleges, and the Irvin D. Reid Honors College are eligible to wear a gold
collar in recognion of their achievements. Students will be noed by the
college or school if they have met the requirements.
14 2024 Commencement Guide
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
DEGREE STATUS
Diplomas will be mailed following cercaon of your degree. If you have
quesons about the status of your diploma, please email the Oce of the
Registrar at graduaon@wayne.edu.
Walking in commencement does not constute graduaon. Check
with your school or college to conrm you have met all graduaon
requirements.
FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS
Your diploma or ocial transcript cannot be released if you have nancial
obligaons to the university. For quesons about nancial maers,
contact Student Accounts Receivable at 313-577-3653.
DUPLICATE COPY OF DIPLOMA
To order a duplicate copy of your diploma, please visit
wayne.edu/registrar/pdfs/diploma-reorder.pdf.
You may also mail a wrien or typed request to:
Wayne State University
Oce of the Registrar
Aenon: Graduaon
5057 Woodward Avenue, h oor
Detroit, MI 48202
Include your name, address, phone number, WSU idencaon number
or Social Security number, year graduated, type of degree (example:
bachelor’s, master’s, Ph.D., Ed.D. or cercate), and a processing fee of
$40 (payable by check or money order to Wayne State University). Credit
cards are not accepted. Requests usually take 10 business days.
commencement.wayne.edu 15
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
n For quesons regarding degree applicaon or diploma status,
contact your advisor or email the Oce of the Registrar
at graduaon@wayne.edu.
n For quesons concerning academic status, contact your advisor
in your college or school.
n For quesons regarding caps and gowns, announcements, rings,
or diploma frames, call the WSU Bookstore at 313-577-2436.
n For quesons regarding the commencement ceremonies, call
313-577-0300 or visit commencement.wayne.edu.
QUESTIONS
LODGING
For lodging informaon for out of town guests, please contact the Detroit
Metro Convenon and Visitors Bureau Visitor Center at 1-800-DETROIT
(338-7648) or visitdetroit.com.
16 2024 Commencement Guide
CAMPUS MAP
Wayne
State
Fieldhouse
Industry
Innovation
Center
Integrative Bioscience Center
(iBio)
08/10/22
commencement.wayne.edu 17
NOTES
18 2023 Commencement Guide
MESSAGE FROM THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Congratulations!
go.wayne.edu/givealumni.wayne.edu
The Wayne State University Alumni Association is proud to welcome
you to a community of more than 300,000 proud alumni.
Congratulations!
go.wayne.edu/givealumni.wayne.edu
The Wayne State University Alumni Association is proud to welcome
you to a community of more than 300,000 proud alumni.
Class of 2024
Wayne State University Board of Governors
Shirley Stancato, chair, Bryan C. Barnhill II, vice chair, Danielle Atkinson,
Michael Busuito, Mark Ganey, Marilyn Kelly, Anil Kumar,
Terri Lynn Land, Kimberly Andrews Espy, ex ocio
STAY SOCIAL
wayne.edu/social
#MyWSUStory
Twier/X @WayneState
Instagram @WayneState
Facebook @WayneStateUniversity
Commencement Oce
Special Events
5700 Cass Ave., Suite 1800
Detroit, MI 48202
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PERMIT NO 3844