Commencement 2023 

Commencement Ceremonies

Location: Greater Philadelphia Expo Center at Oaks – Hall A
For address, directions and other information about the Expo Center, please visit www.phillyexpocenter.com.
Ceremony Length: Each commencement ceremony will last approximately 90 to 120 minutes.

Graduate Commencement (Master and Doctoral Degrees)

Saturday, May 13, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.
Graduates will be expected to arrive at the Expo Center for check-in, robing, and line-up no later than 9:00 a.m.!

Undergraduate Commencement (Associate and Bachelor Degrees)

Saturday, May 13, 2023 at 2:00 p.m.
Graduates will be expected to arrive at the Expo Center for check-in, robing, and line-up no later than 1:00 p.m.!

Pending graduates will soon receive an email from Marching Order – please be sure to whitelist “admin@marchingorder.com” and check your inbox and spam for this very important email.

This email will contain instructions for graduates to:

• Download their Grad Pass (their digital ticket to the ceremony)
• Reserve guest tickets (see “Guest Tickets” below)
• Verify the pronunciation of their name
• Create an individual commencement slide to be shown on the commencement website

Each graduate will have the opportunity to reserve four (4) guest tickets via Marching Order. Infants and small children who can remain seated in a lap during the ceremony do not require a ticket. Guest ticket amounts are subject to change. Extra tickets are not available, so we encourage students in need of extra tickets to check with classmates who may not need all four guest tickets.

Information regarding how to reserve guest tickets will be emailed directly to graduating students and posted to the commencement website in the coming weeks.

Graduates will have the opportunity to enter the phonetic pronunciations of their names in the Marching Order system to ensure their names will be accurately pronounced during the commencement ceremony.

Each commencement ceremony will be livestreamed for guests unable to attend in person. 

Click here to view the live streams. 

Live-streams will also be recorded for future viewing.

Graduates will receive diploma covers at their commencement ceremony. Diplomas will be mailed to graduates’ homes approximately eight weeks after commencement.

The Expo Center has plentiful parking for persons with disabilities and is completely accessible. If a graduate or guest has specific accessibility needs, please email accessibilityservices@gmercyu.edu.

At this time, there is no vaccination requirement or mask mandate to attend for the commencement ceremonies. We will follow all mandated federal, state, and county guidelines regarding COVID-19. Please check this webpage regularly for updates.

Outside food and beverages are not permitted in the Expo Center. We thank you for your cooperation.

Photographers from Lifetouch will take pictures of each graduate as they leave the stage with their diploma cover. Beginning in April, graduates may sign up at www.events.lifetouch.com to receive notification when their photo proofs are ready. There is no obligation to purchase these photos.

All graduates must have academic regalia to participate in their commencement ceremonies. Graduates can arrange to have regalia shipped directly to their home. Please see the instructions below to place your regalia order. There is no cost to order regalia – the cost is covered by a portion of the graduation fee– and it is yours to keep!

Instructions:
Navigate to https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/customer/1045028/Gwynedd-Mercy-University/ 

1. Click on the “Graduation Caps and Gowns” tile
2. Click on “Student Regalia Shipped to Home”
3. Choose the appropriate degree
4. Click “Gown Fit” and enter height and weight
5. Click “Major/Curriculum” and choose appropriate field of study
6. Click “Buy Now” which will bring you to your shopping cart
7. Enter first and last name and click “Checkout”
8. Click “Continue as Guest”
9. Enter Contact Information and click “Continue”
10. Review your order summary and click “Submit”
11. Save your order confirmation number for future reference

Online Regalia and Stole Ordering Site Open Until April 1, 2023! All Regalia and Stole Orders Must be Placed by April 1, 2023 to Ensure Delivery Prior to the Commencement Ceremonies!

Graduates have the option of purchasing a customizable stole to wear with their academic regalia.

To access the stole builder site:

1. Navigate to https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/customer/1045028/Gwynedd-Mercy-University/ 
2. Click on the “Personalized Stoles” tile.
3. Follow the directions to build your custom stole and submit your payment.

Online Regalia and Stole Ordering Site Open Until April 1, 2023! All Regalia and Stole Orders Must be Placed by April 1, 2023 to Ensure Delivery Prior to the Commencement Ceremonies!

Jostens representatives will be on the Gwynedd Valley campus to assist graduates with purchasing class rings from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the University Hall Rotunda on the following dates:

• Wednesday, February 15, 2023
• Thursday, February 16, 2023
• Wednesday, March 15, 2023
• Thursday, March 16, 2023

Lifetouch Photography will be on the Gwynedd Valley campus from April 3, 2023 to April 5, 2023 to take graduation portraits. Portrait sessions will be held in the Late Night Lounge of the Waldron Student Center. All appropriate COVID-19 protocols will be enforced to ensure student safety. To schedule your appointment time, please see the below instructions.

PLEASE NOTE: appointments are available on a first-come, first-served basis. This is the only portrait session scheduled for the spring semester.

1. Navigate to: www.ouryear.com 
2. Enter school code 280
3. Appointments may also be scheduled via phone by calling 1-800-687-9327 between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday – Friday.

Regalia will be provided by the photographer and there is no cost to be photographed.