Graduation and Commencement Ceremony

Prepare for Commencement

photo of graduates at commencement

On this page:

Apply to Graduate

Visit the Apply for Graduation webpage to learn more about applying to graduate and deadlines.
 

Apply to Walk

To attend the commencement ceremony, you must indicate that you are participating in your Graduation Application in WINGS Express.
 

No Tickets for December 2023

Commencement is an exciting time for family and friends to gather and celebrate the accomplishments of the graduating class. Admission tickets are no longer required, but we ask graduates to please limit their number of guests to no more than 14 people so we can accommodate everyone. Seating at the Nutter Center will be first-come, first-served. Doors will open 90 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony.

December 2023 guests numbers of 14 are for both Friday and Saturday commencement ceremonies.

Graduating students, please note: To attend the commencement ceremony, you must indicate in your Graduation Application in WINGS Express that you will be participating. Your status to walk at graduation can be updated and/or changed up to 5 weeks prior to the commencement ceremony. Students are required to walk at the commencement ceremony in which they graduate. International students or students traveling abroad their final semester must request a commencement delay 7 weeks prior to the commencement ceremony date. 
 

Photos

We would love a photo of YOU in your graduation apparel or Wright State gear! A montage of pictures received from our graduates will be prepared and shared on our website, social media, etc.

Please submit one photo no later than November 30, 2023.
 

International Letter of Invitation

International students who wish to invite members of their family to the graduation ceremony may request a "letter of invitation." Usually, this letter is used by the family to secure visas for entry into the United States. Please plan ahead. Students should encourage their families to begin the visa process as soon as graduation is anticipated. 

If you are an international student on a visa, you should contact the University Center for International Education office at askucie@wright.edu to secure a letter of invitation for your family members. If you are not on a visa and are in the Graduate School, please send an email to wsugrad@wright.edu. If you are an undergraduate student, you should contact the dean's office for your college for a letter of invitation. In all cases, please be prepared to provide the full names of those to be invited, the familial relationship, and one embassy address for all names. Multiple letters cannot be provided. It is the responsibility of the recipient of the letter to process the invitation appropriately with the proper government officials. 
 

Academic Attire

Candidates for graduation are required to wear the appropriate academic attire (cap, gown, and hood, if applicable) to participate in the ceremony. The academic robe is different for each of the awards presented—undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate. The hoods or tassels represent the college, school, or major field in which the student is receiving the degree. Following are the color designations for each college, school, or discipline:

  • Graduate School, graduate-level: Black
  • Post-Graduate School, postgraduate level: Gold
  • Boonshoft School of Medicine: Green
  • School of Professional Psychology: Royal Blue
  • *College of Engineering and Computer Science: Orange or Yellow
  • *College of Science and Mathematics: Yellow
  • Raj Soin College of Business: Drab
  • College of Liberal Arts: White
  • College of Health, Education, and Human Services: Apricot (Nursing majors only) and Light Blue (all other majors)

*NOTE: The proper color for all "Sciences" is Golden Yellow, with the exception of engineering students, for whom the proper color is Orange.

You should wear the color (and gown) of the highest level degree you are receiving. If they are of equal ranking (i.e. two bachelor's degrees), wear the color of the group with whom you are seated. You may not wear more than one tassel. 

Cap, gown, and hood, if applicable, can be purchased on campus in the University bookstore or online here: http://colleges.herffjones.com/college/wrightstate/. When you place your order, the website will ask for your area of study, this will determine which tassel color they send to you.

Graduating with Honors

Latin Honors

Undergraduate students with outstanding academic records are recognized at commencement. Latin Honors are based on the achievement of high grades. 

Three Distinctions are noted:

  • Summa Cum Laude indicates a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.9
  • Magna Cum Laude indicates a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.7
  • Cum Laude indicates a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5

Undergraduate students who have earned these distinctions wear white cords in recognition of their achievements and have their level of distinction noted by their name in the printed program. The above information applies to undergraduate students only. Graduate students are required to maintain a certain grade point average, and Latin Honors do not apply to them.

Latin Honor cords for the 2023 Fall Commencement will be available beginning Monday, November 27, in the Student Union Administrative Office (210 Student Union).  A limited number of cords will be available on the day of commencement in McLin Gym. 

Requirements to Attain Latin Honors

Latin Honors are based on meeting the minimum honors grade point average requirements for work attempted at Wright State University and for all college, work attempted as of the end of the term in which the student graduates (that is, by the day on which term grades are due). To be eligible for academic honors at graduation, students must have earned at least 30 semester hours at Wright State University. Please keep in mind that transfer credits from other colleges and universities are also used to calculate the grade point average in determining Latin Honors.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the printed program with respect to degrees awarded and honors conferred. The honors indicated in the program are based upon the student’s grade point average at the end of the semester preceding the semester of graduation. The appearance of a name in the list of degree candidates is not to be regarded as conclusive since some final grades are not submitted until after commencement. The student’s permanent academic record (transcript) is the official record.

university Honors Program

Students who have successfully completed one of the curricular tracks in the University Honors Program will receive an Honors medallion. Please contact honors@wright.edu for more information on the medallion. 

Graduation and Commencement Ceremony