Commencement

Graduate at Commencement

Congratulations Parents and Family Members!

Parents, family, and special friends, on behalf of the entire Graduation Committee, we want to extend our sincere congratulations to you! Your guidance, moral support, and financial assistance have played an important role in your student's college journey and success. Thank you for entrusting Carroll College with your student. We look forward to celebrating the achievements of the Class of 2024 with all of you! - Carroll College Registrar's Office

Reminder: Commencement for 2024 will happen in the PE Center and students will receive 8 tickets electronically for family and friends. Stay tuned for more details.

Class of 2024 Commencement Schedule

The Graduation Committee has set the dates, times, and locations for the events honoring graduates of the Class of 2024 as follows:

MAY 8-9

Cap & Gown Distribution

Mandatory for all graduates attending commencement and/or hooding ceremonies. Students may not pick up caps and gowns before the distribution date. If students need a cap & gown for early pictures, please contact Garrett Thompson, Photography adjunct faculty.

  • Wednesday - 10:00 am - 2:00 pm, O'Connell Hall Lobby/Purple Conference Room
  • Thursday - 9:00 am - 11:00 am, O'Connell Hall Lobby/Purple Conference Room

Students’ academic regalia and line-up number have been ordered and will be provided. At this time, students will pick up Wellness Center records. TWO Baccalaureate tickets will also be provided and must be picked up at Campus Ministry.

Students will not be allowed to pick up any of these items until they have:

  1. Submitted the first destination survey (available April 12)
  2. Completed the Financial Aid loan exit interview (for student loan borrowers)
  3. Cleared all Business Office holds (account balances, Wellness Center charges, library fines)
  4. Cleared all Student Life holds (parking tickets & other fines)

MAY 10

ROTC Commissioning

Friday, May 10, 10:00 a.m. in the Capitol Rotunda

Graduation Rehearsal

Friday, May 10, 1:00 p.m., PE Center
Rehearsal is mandatory for all graduates! Come learn all of the details for graduation day and practice lining up and walking across the stage -- be sure to bring your name card with line-up number. You will receive this at cap and gown pickup.

President's Toast to the Class of 2024

Friday, May 10, 2:30 p.m., Plaza between Hunthausen Activity Center & PE Center
Join your classmates, family, and friends for the President's Toast to the Class of 2024. The President will offer a few remarks, and you will be officially welcomed as Carroll College Alumni.

Nursing Recognition and Pinning Ceremony

Friday, May 10, Time: TBA, PE Center

Education Pinning Ceremony

Friday, May 10, Time: TBA, Lower Campus Center

MSW Hooding Ceremony

Friday, May 10, Time: TBA, PE Center

MACC Hooding Ceremony

Friday, May 10, Time & Location: TBA

Golden Grads

Friday, May 10, Cocktails: 5:30 p.m., Dinner, 6:30 p.m., Campus Center


MAY 11

Baccalaureate Mass

Saturday, May 11, 9:30 a.m., Cathedral of Saint Helena
Come together for a special Mass honoring the Class of 2024. All graduates are invited and encouraged to attend. A maximum of two guests per graduate attending Mass at the Cathedral are allowed – tickets can be picked up at the Campus Ministry offices beginning Wednesday, May 8. Additional family members and other guests will be able to join via live stream. Graduates will assemble by 9:00 a.m. outside the Cathedral. Class photo will be taken after Mass.

114th Commencement Ceremony

Saturday, May 11, 2024, 1:00 p.m., PE Center
The graduates of the Class of 2024 will be front and center at the 114th Commencement Ceremony! Commencement will be held indoors, in the PE Center. Due to fire codes, 8 electronic tickets will be allowed per graduate for the indoor ceremony. More information will be coming soon about how to obtain your 8 tickets, what to do if you need more or if you don't need all 8. The PE Center doors will open for seating at 12:00 p.m. Graduates will assemble by 12:30 p.m. on the field near Guadalupe Hall. A virtual live stream will also be available.

First Destination Survey
Mandatory for all graduates (undergrad, ACNU, MACC, MSW). All spring 2024 graduates are required to complete the "first destination" survey before receiving their caps and gown; students graduating in summer 2024 or fall 2024 will complete the survey closer to the end of the semester in which they are graduating. This survey is required, and a hold will be placed on your record if it is not complete. On April 12, you may access the survey by logging into your Handshake account and selecting Career CenterFirst Destination Survey. If you cannot access the survey or are having trouble, contact Laurie Rodriguez in Career Services.

Photographs 
Helena Photography will be taking a class photo. Kevin Hudson, the owner of Helena Photography, will be sending information to graduates and their families about how to order pictures. He can also be contacted via www.helenaphotography.com or (406) 443-1966.

Graduation Announcements 
Standard graduation announcements can be ordered at the Carroll Bookstore. For personalized graduation announcements, visit jostens.com to place your order.

Need Lodging? 
Families planning to seek lodging in the Helena area should make their reservations as soon as possible. For information about lodging, visit the official Visit Montana website.

Additional Questions 
If you have any questions regarding Baccalaureate Mass, Commencement, or other graduation events, please feel free to stop by the Registrar's Office, call (406) 447-5435, or email registraroffice@carroll.edu.

Q: Where do I order my cap and gown?
The graduating student fee that is charged to each student covers the cost of the cap, gown, and hood (among other things), so these items will be ordered for you. Your regalia is ordered based on the height information you provided and your major, with your major determining your hood color.

Q: If I’m a double major, how do I know what major I will be graduating with?
Students with more than one major will be walking with the primary (first) major listed on the graduation application, and that determines the hood color that was ordered. If Graduates filled out the supplemental questions for the application indicating that they wanted to walk with their second major, then that has been noted and that is the hood color that will be ordered. Graduates will be emailed again in early March and given the chance to swap which major they want to walk with by informing the Registrar’s Office.

Q: When and where do I go to pick up my cap and gown (and guest tickets)?
Your cap and gown can be picked up on Wednesday, May 8 from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. or Thursday, May 9 from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m in O'Connell Hall. Baccalaureate Mass guest tickets (two per graduate attending Mass) can be picked up from the Campus Ministry offices during this same time. The 8 tickets for the ceremony will be distributed electronically.

Q: When and where is graduation rehearsal and do I have to attend?
All graduates must attend the graduation rehearsal on Friday, May 10 at 1:00 p.m., PE Center. You will learn important details about graduation day, and rehearsal will lead into the President's Toast to the Class of 2024, which will be held at 2:30 p.m.

Q: When and where will graduation be held and what time do I have to arrive?
Commencement will start at 1:00 p.m., PE Center on Saturday, May 11. You will need to arrive no later than 12:30 p.m. and assemble on the fields near Guadalupe Hall. Check the Health and Safety Protocols section for the inclement weather plan.

Q: When and where will the Baccalaureate Mass be held and what time do I have to arrive?
Baccalaureate Mass will be held at 9:30 a.m. at the Cathedral of Saint Helena on Saturday, May 11. You will need to arrive no later than 9:00 a.m. and assemble on the lawn outside the Cathedral. Check the Health & Safety Protocols section for the inclement weather plan.

Q: How many guests can I bring to graduation?
There will be 8 guests allowed per graduate for the indoor ceremony. P.E. Center doors will open for seating at 12:00 p.m. Graduates will assemble by 12:30 p.m. on the field near Guadalupe Hall. A live stream option will be available.

Q: How many guests can I bring to Baccalaureate?
Due to limited capacity in the Cathedral, graduates attending the Baccalaureate Mass will be allowed up to two guests in person; guest tickets can be picked up from the Campus Ministry offices during the same time as cap and gown pick-up. A live stream option will be available for additional family members and guests.

Q: What if one of my guests has special seating needs? 
The first row of seating in the PE Center across the entire front of the stands will be designated as Accessible Seating as well as seating on the floor at the back of the sections and will be available on a first come, first served basis.

Q: Who is the Commencement speaker this year?
The Commencement ceremonies will focus on the graduating students, the families who have supported them, and the Carroll community. The ceremony will include a faculty address and a student speaker from the graduating class.

Q: Will there be class toasts?
The President's Toast to the Class of 2024 will be held immediately after rehearsal on Friday, May 10 - the toast will begin at 2:30 p.m.

Q: What does the $160 graduation fee cover?
The fee that is charged to all graduating students covers the cost of the diplomas, the diploma covers distributed at the graduation ceremony, the class bricks, the academic regalia (cap, gown, hood), various senior student and graduation event costs, and various administrative costs. All graduating students are charged the full graduation fee, even if they do not plan to participate in the May ceremony (though we hope everyone will!).

Q: Where can I purchase graduation announcements?
Standard graduation announcements can be ordered at the Carroll Saints Shoppe (bookstore). For personalized graduation announcements, visit www.jostens.com to place your order.

Q: Where can I get graduation pictures?
Helena Photography will only be taking a class photograph at Baccalaureate. Kevin Hudson, the owner, will be sending information to graduates and their families about how to order those pictures. He can also be contacted via www.helenaphotography.com or (406) 443-1966.

Q: Where can I direct my out-of-town guests to for lodging needs?
For out-of-town guests, please refer them to www.visitmt.com. We recommend booking a place as soon as possible.

Q: What if I have more questions?
The Registrar’s Office can field your questions – please stop by our office in O’Connell Hall, call us at (406) 447-5435, or email us at registraroffice@carroll.edu.

2024 Graduation Event Attendance

  • Potential event participants experiencing any CDC-recognized COVID-19 symptoms must not attend any graduation events in person but should participate virtually instead.

Inclement Weather Plans

  • During the line-up for Baccalaureate, in the case of dangerous weather (thunderstorm, hailstorm) graduates will assemble in the lower level of the Cathedral instead of on the lawn.
  • During line-up for Commencement, in the case of dangerous weather (thunderstorm, hailstorm) graduates will assemble in the Great Hall of the Hunthausen Activity Center instead of near Guadalupe Hall; faculty and staff will assemble in the lobby of the PE Center instead of in the back parking lot.

Baccalaureate Mass in Cathedral of St. Helena

  • All guests are required to present a ticket for entry into the Cathedral as available seating is very limited

Commencement Ceremony in the PE Center

  • All guests are required to present a ticket for entry into the PE Center as available seating is limited. Each graduate will receive 8 tickets electronically for commencement.
  • Only graduates, dignitaries, faculty, staff, and volunteers will be allowed on the floor.
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