Dear Class of 2024,
Commencement week at Tulane is an experience like no other, and we cannot wait to welcome your friends and families to New Orleans to celebrate your accomplishments. As we get closer to May, please read the following message in its entirety. It contains important information for all students and guests.
Unified Commencement Ceremony: May 18, 2024
The Unified Commencement ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 18, 6:30 p.m. at Yulman Stadium and will conclude by 8:30 p.m. (pending weather delays). At this special milestone ceremony, featuring an academic procession, live jazz, fireworks, and a keynote speech from Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian Jon Meacham, President Michael A. Fitts will officially confer degrees upon all Tulane University degree candidates (undergraduate, graduate and professional).
Regalia
LAST CALL FOR ORDERS: Students must wear regalia at all in-person ceremonies to participate and/or cross the stage. The final date for online orders (Bachelor, Master, and Doctoral souvenir regalia as well as MD Guest Hooder regalia) is April 7, 2024 (though we recommend ordering as soon as possible to ensure regalia arriving on time) at Tulane's Oak Hall storefront. Online orders will ship directly to students. When the online deadline passes, regalia (Graduate and Undergraduate) can be purchased in person at the Tulane Bookstore. Any in-store regalia purchases made after April 20, 2024, will incur a $30 late fee.
All graduates shall be permitted to wear only those stoles or honor cords earned through University Honors, or recognized organizations officially sanctioned by the University, or by U.S. Military Veterans who attain the prescribed academic achievement to earn Veteran's cords. Personal stoles or cords are not permitted. Tulane encourages students' personal expressions of creativity in the decoration of mortar boards (robe decorating is not permitted) or second-line umbrellas, while reserving neck-worn stoles and cords only for officially recognized honors.
Student Information Records / Confidentiality
If a student has chosen to withhold directory information from public disclosure by selecting the confidentiality box in their Gibson account, their name will not appear in the Commencement print program or any other public reports. This confidentiality flag can be updated through the Gibson online portal until April 12, 2024.
Inclement Weather Planning
Unified Commencement will begin at 6:30 p.m. in Yulman Stadium and will proceed rain or shine, unless severe weather (such as lightning, tornadoes, flooding, etc.) poses a significant threat or danger to the personal safety of graduates and attendees. In the event of severe weather, graduates and their guests should plan for two scenarios if the University's rain plan is initiated:
Rain Delay: the start time of the Unified Commencement ceremony could be delayed by up to two hours, for rapidly moving weather events.
For school ceremonies on Friday in Yulman Stadium, a rain delay could occur in order to compensate for rapidly moving weather events.
Postponement: if necessary, the unified ceremony could be postponed to Sunday morning, weather-permitting.
If the University's rain plan is initiated, details about the changes will be communicated by:
- Updates on the Commencement website.
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Text message updates will be sent by the Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response. Guests can sign up for these updates by texting tugrad to 888777.
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The university's main social media channels (Instagram: @tulaneu, Twitter/X: @Tulane).
School Ceremonies: May 17-18, 2024
In addition to the Unified Commencement ceremony, graduates are invited to the ceremony of the school awarding their degree. At these ceremonies, graduates' names are called to cross the stage individually. Please note that some schools have separate ceremonies for undergraduate and graduate degree candidates. For a full listing of these ceremonies and events, visit commencement.tulane.edu/schedule.
Accessibility and Accommodations
Tulane University strives to host inclusive and accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. To be respectful of those with allergies and environmental sensitivities, we ask that you please refrain from wearing strong fragrances.
To request disability-related accommodations at any Commencement-related event, please complete and submit this form by Wednesday, May 1, 2024. To make this request by email, contact TUgrad@tulane.edu.
Due to excessive heat that is customary that time of year, water will be provided to graduates, and each guest will be allowed to bring one factory sealed water bottle into the stadium. There are several refill stations located around the stadium. Water will also be available for purchase.
Tulane University will provide reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act with sufficient notice.
Travel
United Airlines and Southwest Airlines provide Tulane travelers with additional benefits for Commencement travel.
To book discounted airfare on Southwest Airlines qualifying flights, please book via SWABIZ.com using ID# 99579701. Southwest also gives 15% additional Rapid Rewards points to travelers who provide their Rapid Rewards number. Detailed booking instructions can be found here. Booking is available up to May 1, 2024 for travel between May 1 and May 25, 2024.
To make flight reservations online with United Airlines, please use discount promotion code ZP6U521668. Booking fees are waived for these reservations. You may also call United Meetings Reservation Desk Monday-Friday at 800-426-1122 for booking assistance. International customers may contact their local United Reservation Desk.
Information regarding hotel accommodations can be found here.
Memorabilia
Tulane memorabilia including diploma frames are available to order from the Tulane Bookstore. Contact the bookstore at 504-865-5913 for more information or to place an order by phone.
Show your pride with your Tulane class ring and share your graduation news with official Tulane announcements! Undergraduate students who have completed 60 credit hours and graduate students who have completed half of their required coursework are eligible to purchase their Tulane Ring. Order your rings and announcements from the Balfour website or by calling 1- 866-255-3687 weekdays from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Production time for announcements is 7-10 business days.
Share your photos for the big screen!
Share the highlights of your Tulane career with your family and friends as they wait for the event to begin. Typical pictures include graduates with classmates, performing public service, enjoying New Orleans, Study Abroad experiences and more.
