Your Big Day

Attend Baccalaureate Mass

The Baccalaureate Mass will be offered on Saturday, May 4, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Fort Wayne. This Mass complements the freshman Matriculation Ceremony when students first enter the University, and before their family and USF faculty and staff, receive a USF medallion. Most Reverend Kevin C. Rhoades, Bishop of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, will celebrate the Mass in thanksgiving for the blessings God has bestowed upon the graduates. The priests, the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration, administrators, faculty, staff, and all others will honor the graduates.

All listed times are in Eastern Standard Time (EST), the time zone applicable to Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Arrival information

Graduating students should arrive at 9:00 a.m. in their gowns with caps for the Academic Procession. Family and friends may be seated in the unreserved areas of the Church.

Free parking is available.

Attend Commencement

Commencement is a degree conferral ceremony and will be held on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.

Doors open for check-in at 12:30 p.m. Graduates must arrive no later than 1:30 p.m. The ceremony begins at 2:00 p.m. and will last approximately two hours. Students earning a certificate alone do not walk at commencement.

Parking is $8.00 per vehicle (cash only).

Check-in

Graduates will be directed by the University of Saint Francis Ushers towards the check-in tables. Staff will provide a name card that will be read on stage. Graduates will line up behind the sign that indicates the correct degree. Staff will be available to assist in preparation to enter the ceremony.

Honors

Undergraduate students conferred honors will receive yellow honors cords after they check-in. Honors at graduation are not conferred on graduate-level degree students.

Photography

GradImages is the official photographer for Commencement. A professional photographer will take individual pictures of each graduate as they are about to receive their diploma. Each graduate will receive a free passport-sized digital proof of this photograph on an order card following the ceremony, along with instructions on how to order photos.

To pre-register to receive proofs even faster electronically and/or add family and friends to view Commencement photo proofs, visit the Grad Images site and click on “Pre-Event Registration.” To contact GradImages with questions following Commencement, call 800-261-2576 or email ecc.giservice@gradimages.net.