Commencement Information for Graduates

Who Can Participate?

Students who have completed all degree requirements during the summer 2024, fall 2024 and those completing their requirements by May 2025 will be eligible to participate in commencement. In addition, students who will complete their requirements during the summer 2025 term may participate if they meet specific guidelines. For complete information on applying for graduation, visit the Student Navigation Center's graduation page.

Each graduating student who indicated their intent to attend a commencement ceremony and who received notification from the registrar’s office that they are eligible to participate in commencement, may reserve up to four (4) commencement tickets to his/her assigned ceremony. Beginning on April 9, students may reserve tickets online. The buying or selling of commencement tickets is not permitted.

Additional Tickets

If available, a limited number of additional tickets will be released on Thursday, May 8 at the times below. Tickets will be available via the SSU ticket site on a first come, first serve basis. Students claim additional tickets the same way they reserved the first four tickets (see steps outlined in Reserve Commencement Tickets Online). Tickets will be released according to the following schedule:

· Maguire Meservey College of Health & Human Services ceremony: ticket release at 11am

· College of Arts & Sciences/Bertolon School of Business ceremony: ticket release at 1pm

· College of Arts & Sciences/McKeown School of Education: ticket release at 3:30pm

Reserve Commencement Tickets Online

1. Visit SSU ticket site as of noon on April 9-May 4.
2. Enter your Navigator username in email address format (ex: s0123456@salemstate.edu) and password.
3. Select your ceremony.
4. Select the number of tickets (up to four).
5. Indicate if any of your guests need accessible seating accommodations. For more information, contact commencement-access@salemstate.edu or 978.542.6217 (TTY: 978.542.7146), no later than Monday, April 28, 2025.
6. Print or email your tickets to your guest(s).

Parking

The main parking lot for Salem State's commencement ceremonies is located at the O'Keefe Complex at 225 Canal Street in Salem. The university also provides satellite lots in case of overflow. These lots are located at our North and Harrington campuses and are within walking distance to the O’Keefe Complex.

Please note that satellite viewing during commencement ceremonies takes place in the Ellison Campus Center on North Campus. Download a commencement parking map.

Arrival time 

Candidates for graduation should arrive at O'Keefe Sports Complex no later than 90 minutes prior to their ceremony. Late arrivals may not be admitted to commencement activities.

Check-in will take place at the main entrance of the Harold E. and Marilyn J. Gassett Fitness and Recreation Center. Commencement staff will assist the candidates with lining up in the Twohig Gymnasium and will guide them to the seating area on the rink floor. There is no secure storage for personal belongings at the O’Keefe Sports Complex, so please plan accordingly.

Stage Procession

At check-in candidates will receive a colored 3 x 5” index card with a number. Keep this card with you at all times. The card will be presented on stage just prior to the announcement of your degree. Once candidates are placed in order in the gym by commencement staff, the candidates must remain in that position. Because students’ names will be called in the order of the student lines, failure to maintain the correct place in line or present the card on stage will disrupt the  procession of students across the stage. Once a student has presented their card on stage, their name will be called and the student will proceed across the stage to be congratulated by a university academic leader and professionally photographed. If candidates need to leave the arena after checking in, they must show the index card and a hand stamp for re-entry.

Photography

The ceremonies are photographed and streamed. Participation implies consent to photos and/or images being shown or used by the university.

A commercial photographer with a special high-speed camera will take two pictures of each student, 1) posed, prior to them crossing the stage, and 2) on the stage with the University President or Provost. A few weeks prior to commencement, degree candidates will receive detailed information from the photographer.

No private photographers will be allowed on the floor or near the stage.

Students will receive a code from Grad Images, the ceremony photographer, for one free 5x7 digital photo from Graduation Portraits and/or one free 5x7 print photo from Commencement with their proofs from all photos taken. There is a shipping charge to order the print with the Grad Images code for the free photo from Commencement.

Contacting the Photographer

Grad Images will send the proofs to your SSU email address. For more information, contact Grad Images at (800) 261-2576, online at www.gradimages.com, or by email. After the ceremony, photographers will also move among the guests and graduates to take candid photographs.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, graduates and faculty will process out of the arena and onto the soccer field. Flags representing each program area will be posted to help students reunite with their families and supporters.

Reuse or Recycle your Graduation Gown 

Graduates: after taking all the photos you want, please consider passing your graduation cap and gown on to a sibling or friend who might need it. Or, you can recycle them at one of the white textile recycling bins on campus. The textile bins are located behind Forten Hall, just beyond Peabody Hall and at South Campus. It is illegal in Massachusetts to dispose of graduation gowns and other textiles in the trash.

Receiving your Diploma

Students who have completed their degrees in May 2025 will receive their actual diploma by mail during the summer following the ceremony to allow for all academic honors and requirements from the Spring 2025 term to be credited. For information on diploma delivery schedules, visit the registrar's graduation page.

All on-campus activities are subject to the Salem State University health and safety protocols, found at www.salemstate.edu/covid19. We ask that individuals, to the best of their ability and knowledge, be free from infectious disease(s) when attending in-person events on campus, including COVID-19, and/or wear a mask to prevent spreading illness to others. Thank you for your cooperation and assistance in keeping our community safe and healthy. Please be aware that protocols may be adjusted due to changing public health circumstances.

Congratulations, Class of 2025! Tag Salem State on social media or use #SalemState25 to share your commencement experience.

Questions about commencement? Fill out our contact form or call 978.542.4723.