Commencement FAQ's

No. Graduates will participate based on their School if they are an on-campus student, or academic unit if they are an online student.

It depends… Depending on your program you may be graduating with other degree candidates, or you may only be with students getting their master’s degree.

No, our ceremonies are held in person in Manchester, NH at the SNHU Arena. We do provide a live stream at www.snhu.edu/graduation that graduates, family, and friends can watch during Commencement Weekend.

Yes, we live stream our Commencement ceremonies via the SNHU website during Commencement Weekend. The link will be available at www.snhu.edu/graduation.

We post a select number of candid pictures on the SNHU Commencement archive page at www.snhu.edu/graduation.

Graduates can go to mySNHU, and on the left side of the screen there is a link used to start the Petition to Graduate process. You can also go to http://bit.ly/snhupetition to access the link (SNHU credentials are required to login).

Between 2-3 hours.

Details about graduating with honors from SNHU can be found in the academic catalog at www.snhu.edu/catalog.

We hold Commencement Weekend each May. In 2018, Commencement Weekend is scheduled for May 12-13, 2018.

Commencement Weekend for all graduates is May 12-13, 2018. All graduates approved by the Registrar and have stated they plan to participate will have access to specific details (day and time) after January 15, 2018, via the mySNHU graduation page.

There is no charge for Commencement tickets for guests. Graduates who are approved to participate in the Commencement and have confirmed they will be attending the ceremony will be able to reserve guest tickets starting at the end of February prior to the May ceremony.

Our commencement ceremonies are held at the SNHU Arena in Manchester, NH at 555 Elm Street.

Yes, when guests of the graduates enter the main doors for the SNHU Arena, there will be a table with Accessibility Center Staff who will assist with accommodations. Please read the Commencement Accessibility Information document.

Yes, if you have received an honor society cord and/or stole mailed to you from a nationally recognized honor society you will be allowed to wear them. If you are a member of NSCS or an inducted member of NSLS, you could purchase the items individually from the National Office and have it mailed to you prior to Commencement Weekend. NSCS Shop and NSLS Shop. No COCE honor society items can be purchased at commencement or through the Bookstore.

Any questions regarding honor societies, including cords and sashes, should be directed to the appropriate Honor Society contact. 

Both the University College and College of Online & Continuing Education host events during Commencement Weekend for graduates who have excelled academically. These programs are invitation-only events, where the School or Academic Unit will send out email communications to the eligible graduates SNHU email account by the last week of April.  If you have questions about your eligibility you should contact the School (UC) or Academic Unit (COCE) that you are associated with for details.

To participate in the ceremony all participants are required to wear a cap and gown.

Caps and gowns will be distributed in the Robert A. Freese Student Center at the SNHU Bookstore for all students graduating from University College (on-campus).

Students graduating from the online programs, College for America, and the Advantage programs will have their cap and gown shipped. (Note: We’ll use the address provided to our Vendor, Balfour, as part of Step 4 of the Petition to Graduate process.)

Yes. Often students will decorate their caps. This practice is acceptable as long as it is done in a respectful manner.

There is no practice prior to the ceremony. Once graduates arrive to line up they will be given instructions.

Graduates should enter through the rear doors of the arena (Chestnut Street) and should plan on arriving 60 minutes before the start of the Commencement Ceremony. Guests should check with the graduate regarding the ceremony time. Guests should enter the arena through the front doors (Elm Street).

Yes. Elevators are located to the right in the front lobby of the SNHU Arena.

Typically, the ceremonies will last approximately 2 to 3 hours. This depends on the number of graduates participating in the ceremony.

Yes. Concession stands will be open during the ceremony.

Balloons, and outside food and beverages are not allowed in the arena. There will be refreshment stations available in the facility where food and beverages can be purchased. Backpacks, large bags, weapons of any type are also not allowed in the arena.

All graduates are expected to be at the ceremony for its duration.

Diplomas are not distributed at the Commencement Ceremony. As long as the graduates have completed their course work, are in good academic standing, do not have any outstanding financial obligations, and have completed the Financial Aid exit counseling, their diploma will be mailed to the address they provided on their Petition to Graduate Form within 10 business days after the ceremony.

All students will be presented with a diploma cover at the ceremony, and their names will be announced during the ceremony as long as they complete the Petition to Graduate before March 15th.

All graduates who stated they will be participating in the ceremony through the Petition to Graduate process will have access to the online ticketing system. When the link is available, all eligible students will be sent an email instructing them to access the link that will be posted on the my.SNHU graduation page. Graduates do not need a ticket to get in the SNHU Arena.

Graduates wishing to request more than the number of tickets allotted to them will be able to request additional tickets. Reasonable requests will be honored while ticket supplies last.

Generally, children 3 years old and under are not required to have a ticket, unless they are going to use a seat.

Information regarding parking and directions are located at the City of Manchester website: http://www.manchesternh.gov/Departments/Parking/On-Street-and-Off-Street-Parking

The City of Manchester has 3,500 metered parking spaces in the downtown area. Most of the meters are Pay & Display parking kiosks. The center of downtown has a 2-hour parking limit and parking is $.75 per hour on Saturdays - 10am-8pm on Elm St. between Granite and Bridge. After 5pm you can park at any meter for any length of time as long as you pay to park.

Southern New Hampshire University's graduation ceremonies are available to view via a live web stream on the SNHU Commencement webpage on the commencement dates. 

Yes. Any guests with a hearing impairment will have access to a close caption feed on the SNHU Commencement webpage on the commencement dates.

Graduates will receive a digital proof of the photos taken within a few weeks following the ceremony. Questions may be emailed to service@gradimages.com. After the ceremony orders may be placed online at http://www.gradimages.com/ or by calling 800.261.2576.

Due to safety concerns, please do not approach the stage. Guests of the graduates are not allowed on the floor during the ceremony. However, while space permits, families sitting towards the front of the arena will have a better opportunity of being able to take pictures without leaving their seats.

Unfortunately, no. There will be ample opportunity to take pictures at the reception, which will be held at the Dining Center on the main campus immediately after the ceremony. Also, pictures can be taken outside the main entrance of the arena with no restrictions.

Yes. The Executive Ceremonies & Celebrations Office with be producing a USB drive that will be available for purchase at www.snhugradtix.com. This will have all four ceremonies and other videos and images.

Yes, there will be a reception immediately following each ceremony, and it will be held on campus at the SNHU Dining Center. SNHU welcomes everyone to stop by for great refreshments and conversation. (Directions: http://goo.gl/maps/wDt5J).

The best place to park on campus is parking lot 26-C, which is behind the Dining Center (Building 21) where the reception is being held.