Commencement 2024

Commencement Activities 2025

Commencement is an exciting time on Trevecca’s campus. Below is the schedule for the 2024-2025 Commencement convocations. Ceremonies are open seating and will be held outside on the Quad adjacent to McClurkan Hall for all programs, weather permitting.

Physician Assistant Commencement Convocation 2025

Guest Information

• Commencement Convocation – Commencement will take place on Trevecca's campus on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at 9 a.m. for associate and bachelor’s degree candidates and 2 p.m. for master’s, specialist and doctoral degree candidates. All ceremonies will be held on the Quad adjacent to McClurkan Hall, weather permitting. The Quad is an outdoor, grassy space with limited shade. Please wear comfortable shoes and bring water, hats, sunscreen and sunglasses. Seating on the Quad is unlimited, but in the event of rain, indoor seating will be limited to those who have a ticket. See the Inclement Weather tab for complete details. Parking and seating are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Graduates and their guests should plan to arrive early for the event.
• Live Streaming – Commencement for all events will be streamed here.
• Alumni Association Introduction – Graduates are invited to stop by the Alumni Association tent on Hart Street at the roundabout immediately following the Commencement Convocation to meet members of the Alumni Association Board of Directors and take photos at the photo wall. 
• Nursing Pinning Ceremony – Friday, May 2, 2025 at 1 p.m. in the Trevecca Community Church sanctuary.
• Phi Delta Lambda Honors Dinner and Induction Ceremony (by invitation only) – Friday, May 2, at 5:30 p.m., Zelma Waggoner Performance Hall, Jackson Center for Music and Worship Arts
  PDL is the national honor society of the colleges and universities of the Church of the Nazarene. Undergraduates, both traditional and nontraditional, are eligible for induction during the year they graduate. Inductees will have a minimum cumulative 3.8 GPA. Membership will not exceed 15 percent of the total number of graduates. Graduates being inducted will receive official notification by email in April. 
• Honor Cords – Cords are provided by the University for all undergraduate candidates with a GPA of 3.5 or higher and are distributed with the academic regalia. Latin honors of Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude and Summa Cum Laude will be read at the commencement ceremony and printed on the diploma, as calculated through the fall semester.
• Seating for Guests with Wheelchairs – Reserved seating is available for guests in wheelchairs on the lawn in front of the Mackey Building. One guest may sit with the individual needing special accommodations. To reserve seating in this area, please contact the Office of University Engagement at 615-248-1355 or universityengagement@trevecca.edu with the names of both guests. Accessible parking is available with a valid ADA placard clearly displayed on your dashboard or visor before you enter campus. Parking is available on a first come, first served basis. 
• Graduation Photos – Individual pictures of the graduates will be taken by Gradlmages® during the ceremony. Visit https://www.gradimages.com/Registration to register and receive 20 percent off a purchase of $50 or more. Friends and family members can also save 20 percent on photos (and receive a link to view the graduate’s photos) by providing their email addresses. Proofs will be sent as soon as they are available after the event.
• Special Hotel/Motel Rates – Visit our Hotels page for a list of hotels and motels near campus. Be sure to ask for the special rate for Trevecca guests when making reservations. The quality of these establishments is not guaranteed.
• Directions to Campus  
• Campus Map
• Photo Spots Map

Instructions for Associate & Bachelor's Degrees, Traditional and Nontraditional

Saturday, May 3, 2024, 9 a.m.

• Graduates should wear their academic regalia* to campus for their ceremony. All associate and bachelor’s degree candidates, both traditional and nontraditional, should assemble at 8:20 a.m. on Saturday, May 3. Student marshals will line up graduates facing the quad, on the sidewalk at the top of the stairs leading down to the bell tower. Associate candidates will line up first, in two lines directly behind the student marshals on the sidewalk connecting the Adams Building and the Reed Memorial Tower, facing the tower. Bachelor’s candidates will line up behind the associate graduates in two lines and continue on the sidewalk alongside the Martin Building, facing the circle in front of the Adams Building. There is no order to the line once graduates are in their group by degree.
• Faculty marshals will check to see that graduates are lined up properly and to ensure each graduate has the name card* with his/her name printed on it. The name cards were distributed with the regalia packet. Please complete the name card on the back and bring the card to the Commencement Convocation. Graduates will hand the card to Dr. Lena Welch at the podium, who will call their name at the time the degree is awarded.
• The march will begin at 8:50 a.m. Administrators and faculty will lead, marching through the line of graduating candidates. The line will proceed through the Reed Bell Tower, across Hart Street and onto The Quad. 
• After marching in, graduates will remain standing as a group until after the invocation.
• Following the benediction, graduates exit immediately behind the faculty. Student marshals will direct each row, beginning with those at the front.
• Graduates are invited to stop by the Alumni Association tent on Hart Street at the roundabout immediately after the Commencement Convocation. There will be a photo wall for taking pictures.

*Graduates who chose to have their regalia shipped to campus will pick up their regalia, name card, commencement information sheet, four (4) rain plan tickets, and honor cords (if applicable) at the Mailroom, located in Waggoner Library, beginning Monday, April 21, through Friday, May 2, from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Graduates will receive an email notification that they have a package to pick up when their regalia comes in. Please pick up your items before graduation day.

*Graduates who chose to have their regalia shipped to home will still need to pick up the name card, commencement information sheet, four (4) rain plan tickets, and honor cords (if applicable) at the Mailroom, located in Waggoner Library, beginning Monday, April 21, through Friday, May 2, from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Please make every effort to pick up your items before graduation day.

Regalia Guidelines

• Graduation is a formal ceremony and academic regalia must be worn as distributed by the University.
• All men will leave their caps on except during the invocation and the benediction.
• Do not wear anything on the outside of the academic regalia, such as a corsage, stole, sticker, button, etc.
• Associate and bachelor’s candidates should wear the tassel over their right temple and move it to the left after receiving their diploma cover, when exiting the platform.

Photo/Video Access

• The University has arranged for a Gradlmages® to take photos of each graduate during the ceremony. Register at gradimages.com/Registration to take advantage of a 20 percent discount for graduates and their families and friends. Proofs will be emailed as soon as they are available.
• Commencement will be streamed live during all events at streaming.trevecca.edu.

Awarding of Degrees

In the awarding of degrees, the following procedures will be followed:

• The University provost will ask the candidates to stand. All graduates will stand together and remain standing until the president and university provost finish their comments.
• The provost will read a brief statement to the president who will respond and confer the degrees. We invite parents, family members and friends to stand as their graduate's name is called and the diploma cover is received. Graduates may wish to alert their guests to be ready to stand.
• The first two rows of associate and bachelor's degree candidates will remain standing and proceed to the platform, led by a student marshal. Everyone else is seated. As each row comes to the aisle, the marshal will ask the next row to stand as a group, move to the aisle and proceed to the platform.
• As the candidate approaches the top of the ramp leading to the stage, he/she will give the completed name card* from the packet to Dr. Lena Welch at the podium. The student will quietly speak their name to Dr. Welch, who will then announce the student's name.
• Each graduate will wait at the top of the ramp until their name and honors have been read and then walk across the stage to receive a diploma cover. Graduates will pause for a moment when receiving the diploma cover from the president to have a picture taken by Gradlmages®. The chairman of the Board of Trustees and the president of the Alumni Association will also give congratulations.
• Graduates will descend by the opposite ramp, have a photo taken and then return to their original row. They will remain standing until the complete row of graduates has returned and then be seated together, as a row.

*It is important that graduates complete the name card on the back and they bring the card to the Commencement convocation. 

Additional Information for Graduates

• Summer graduates must be within nine hours of graduation by the end of the spring semester in order to be eligible to participate in Commencement. In addition, the summer graduate must have a feasible plan for completing all graduation requirements by August 15. Summer graduates are expected to follow their plan for program completion. All courses are to be taken in summer school at Trevecca unless advance approval is provided through approval through the Office of Academic Records.
• Traditional undergraduate students who had student loans need to schedule an exit meeting with the Office of Financial Aid. Please email financialservices@trevecca.edu or call 615-248-1242 to schedule an appointment.
• Diplomas will be mailed. Academic Records will have one month after the conferral date to award the degrees. For May conferrals, diplomas will be mailed the first week of June, providing there are no holds on the student account. For August conferrals, diplomas will be mailed the second week of September providing there are no holds on the student account. Please make sure to communicate this information with parent(s)/guardian(s) as well.
• A final decision about implementation of the rain plan will be made as early as possible prior to the time of each ceremony. However, that decision may not happen until two hours prior to any of the ceremonies. In case of rain during the time of any of the individual ceremonies, only the event affected by weather will be moved inside. Seating for indoor ceremonies will be limited to four (4) guests per graduate. Graduates should locate the rain plan tickets included in their graduation/regalia packet, which will be needed for guest entry to the ceremony. Please refer to the Inclement Weather tab for complete details about the rain plan. 

Instructions for Master's, Specialist & Doctoral Degrees

Saturday, May 3, 2025, 2 p.m.

• Graduates should wear their academic regalia* to campus for their ceremony. All master’s, specialist and doctoral degree candidates should assemble at 1:20 p.m. on Saturday, May 3. Faculty marshals will line up graduates facing the quad, on the sidewalk at the top of the stairs leading down to the bell tower. Doctoral candidates will line up first, in two lines directly behind the marshals on the sidewalk connecting the Adams Building and the Reed Memorial Tower, facing the tower. Ph.D. candidates should be at the front in the right line, followed by DBA and then Ed.D. candidates in two lines. Master’s and specialist degree candidates will line up in two lines behind the doctoral graduates and continue on the sidewalk alongside the Martin Building, facing the circle in front of the Adams Building. There is no order to the line once graduates are in their group by degree.
• Faculty marshals will check to see that graduates are lined up properly and ensure that each graduate has the name card* with his/her name printed on it. The name cards were distributed with the regalia packet. Please complete the back of the name card and bring the card to Commencement. Graduates will hand the card to Dr. Jonathan Bartling as they arrive at the podium, who will call their name at the time of awarding of the degree. 
• The march will begin at 1:50 p.m. Administrators and faculty will lead, marching through the two lines of graduate candidates. The line will proceed through the Reed Bell Tower, across Hart Street and onto the Quad.
• After marching in, graduates will remain standing as a group until after the invocation.
• Following the benediction, graduates will exit immediately behind the faculty. Marshals will direct each row, beginning with those at the front.
• Graduates are invited to stop by the Alumni Association tent on Hart Street at the roundabout immediately after Commencement to take pictures at the photo wall.

*Graduates who chose to have their regalia shipped to campus will pick up their regalia, name card, commencement information sheet, and four (4) rain plan tickets at the mailroom, located in Waggoner Library, beginning Monday, April 21, through Friday, May 2, from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Graduates will receive an email notification that they have a package to pick up when their regalia comes in. Please pick up your items before graduation day.

*Graduates who chose to have their regalia shipped to home will still need to pick up the name card, commencement information sheet, and four (4) rain plan tickets at the Mailroom, located in Waggoner Library, beginning Monday, April 21, through Friday, May 2, from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Please make every effort to pick up your items before graduation day.

Regalia Guidelines

• Graduation is a formal ceremony and academic regalia must be worn as distributed by the University.
• All men will leave their caps on except during the invocation and the benediction.
• Do not wear anything on the outside of the academic regalia, such as a corsage, stole, sticker, button, etc.
• Master’s and doctoral candidates should wear the tassel over the left temple.
• Master’s and specialist candidates will wear their hoods to the ceremony. Watch this guide for instructions on how to wear a hood.
• Doctoral candidates will receive instructions about their hoods from their advisors and program leaders.

Photo/Video Access

• The University has arranged for a Gradlmages® to take photos of each graduate during the ceremony. Register at gradimages.com/Registration to take advantage of a 20 percent discount for you and your family and friends. Proofs will be sent to you as soon as they are available.
• All commencement events will be live streamed at streaming.trevecca.edu.

Regalia Return (DBA, Ed.D. & Ph.D. Graduates)

Doctoral students (DBA, Ed.D., & Ph.D.): Please return your regalia, gown and tam on Saturday, May 3, at the conclusion of the 2 p.m. convocation, to the designated area near the Campus Store on the main level of the Jernigan Student Center.

Awarding of Degrees

In the awarding of degrees, the following procedure will be followed:

• The University provost will ask the candidates to stand. All graduates will stand together and remain standing until the president and provost finish their comments. 
• The provost will read a brief statement to the president who will respond and confer the degrees. The provost will invite parents, family members and friends to stand as their graduate's name is called and the diploma cover is received. Graduates may wish to alert their guests to be ready to stand.
• The first two rows of master’s degree candidates will remain standing and proceed to the platform, led by a faculty marshal. Everyone else is seated. As each row comes to the aisle, the marshal will ask the next row to stand as a group and move to the aisle and proceed to the platform. Degrees will be awarded by section. Master’s degrees will be awarded first, followed by specialist degrees. Doctoral degrees will be awarded last.
• As the candidate approaches the top of the ramp leading to the stage, he/she will give their completed name card* to Dr. Jonathan Bartling at the podium. The student will quietly speak their name to Dr. Bartling who will then announce the student's name.
• Each graduate will wait at the top of the ramp until their name has been read and then walk across the stage and receive their diploma cover. Graduates will pause for a moment when receiving the diploma cover from the president to have a picture taken by Gradlmages®. The chairman of the Board of Trustees and the president of the Alumni Association will also give congratulations.
• Doctoral candidates will be hooded after their name is called, prior to receiving the diploma cover.
• Graduates will descend by the opposite ramp, have a photo taken and then return to their original row. They will remain standing until the complete row of graduates has returned, and then the entire row will be seated together.

*It is important that graduates complete the name card on the back and bring the card to the Commencement convocation. 

Additional Information for Graduates

• Summer master’s graduates must be within nine hours of graduation by the end of the spring semester in order to be eligible to participate in commencement. A summer master’s graduate must have a feasible plan for completing all graduation requirements by August 15. Summer master’s graduates are expected to follow their plan for program completion.
• Diplomas will be mailed. Academic Records will have one month after the conferral date to award the degrees. For May conferrals, diplomas will be mailed the first week of June, providing there are no holds on the student account. For August conferrals, diplomas will be mailed the second week of September, providing there are no holds on the student account. Please communicate this information with parents/guardians as well.
• A final decision about implementation of the rain plan will be made as early as possible prior to each ceremony. However, that decision may not happen until two hours prior to any of the ceremonies. In case of rain during the time of an individual ceremony, only the event affected by weather will be moved inside. Seating for indoor ceremonies will be limited to four guests per graduate. Graduates should locate the rain plan tickets included in their graduation/regalia packet, which will be needed for guests’ entry to the ceremony. Please refer to the Commencement Inclement Weather Plan tab for complete details about the rain plan.

Inclement Weather Plan 2025

All Commencement convocations will be held outside on the Quad unless there is a significant weather issue. Seating on the Quad is unlimited, however, in the event of rain, indoor seating is limited to those who have a ticket.

A final decision about implementation of the rain plan will be made as early as possible prior to each ceremony. However, that decision may not happen until two hours prior to either of the ceremonies. In case of rain during the time of the individual ceremonies, only the event affected by weather will be moved inside. The University will post an announcement on Trevecca's homepage up to one hour before the ceremony should we need to revert to the rain plan. In addition, up-to-date information will be available via the official Trevecca Facebook Page and X (Twitter) page.

Should the Inclement Weather Plan need to be implemented, seating will be limited. Graduates should locate the rain plan tickets included in their graduation/regalia packet for their guests. Only guests with a ticket will be permitted for indoor ceremonies. Each guest, child or adult, will need to have a ticket.

Locations of Indoor Ceremonies

Commencement Convocations will be held at 9 a.m. for the following groups in the stated locations:

• Moore Gymnasium – 9 a.m.
  ASSOCIATE and BACHELOR degree candidates, Traditional
• Boone Convocation Center - 9 a.m.
  ASSOCIATE and BACHELOR degree candidates, Nontraditional

Commencement convocations will be held at 2 p.m. for the following groups in the stated locations:

Boone Convocation Center – 2 p.m.
Doctor of Business Administration
Master of Arts
     Church and Community
     Organizational Leadership
     Theology and Biblical Studies
     Worship and Leadership

Master of Business Administration
Master of Healthcare Administration
Master of Organizational Leadership
Master of Public Administration
Master of Public Health
Master of Science
     Healthcare Administration
     Human Performance and Fitness
     Instructional Design and Technology
     Management
     Sport and Entertainment Management

Moore Gymnasium – 2 p.m.
Doctor of Education
Doctor of Philosophy
Specialist in Education
Master of Arts in Teaching
Master of Education
Master of Library and Information Science
Master of Arts
     Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Master of Marriage and Family Counseling

Line-up Plans

Graduates will line up in the following locations:

• Moore Gymnasium – Graduates will be pre-seated in designated rows. Faculty will line up in the Lower-Level Hallway of Moore Gymnasium
• Boone Convocation Center – Graduates will be pre-seated in designated rows. Faculty will line up in the Classroom Hallways of the Boone Business Building

Parking

• Main campus entrance – Enter the campus via the main entrance or the service entrance and park in the church parking lot, the North Drive AC lot or the Benson parking lot (in front of Benson Hall). 
• Nance Lane – Enter campus via Nance Lane and personnel will direct you to parking lots within a short distance of The Quad (or Moore Gymnasium).
• Accessible disability parking – Available with an ADA placard or license plate on a first come, first served basis. Accessible parking is limited in all lots; if you require one of these spaces, please plan to arrive early enough to be directed to a reserved space.
• Other available parking – More parking is available behind residence halls (Wise, Tennessee, Georgia), behind the Jackson Center of Music and Worship Arts and in the Polk Avenue lot.
  
  Parking areas are highlighted on the map below.

Regalia Return (DBA, Ed.D. & Ph.D.)

Doctoral students (DBA, Ed.D. & Ph.D.): Please return your regalia (gown and tam/hat only) on Saturday, May 3, at the conclusion of the 2 p.m. convocation, to the designated area near the campus store on the main level of the Jernigan Student Center.

In the event the rain plan is implemented, please return your regalia to the foyer of the building where your ceremony is held.

If the inclement weather plan is used, it will be best for graduates and guests to park in those lots that are closest to the indoor ceremony they will attend.