Fall 2020 Commencement FAQ

Will there be commencement ceremonies?
Yes. On December 14, the university will host a virtual ceremony for the class of 2020 to celebrate their achievements. The ceremony will be aired on YouTube.

Will there be convocation (college/school) ceremonies?
Yes. Colleges and schools will host virtual convocation ceremonies on December 14 for their graduates . All ceremonies will be aired on YouTube.

Will in-person ceremonies be offered?
Yes. In addition to the virtual ceremonies, May and December 2020 graduates will have the opportunity to attend the Spring or Fall 2021 ceremonies.

Does participating in virtual ceremonies mean I cannot attend in person ceremonies later?
You are welcome to do both.  Virtual ceremonies are a way to allow graduates to celebrate their achievements on schedule, until public health officials report that it is safe to gather in person. ASU also invites you to participate in person in either May  or December 2021 commencement events.

If I don’t want to participate in any of the ceremonies, do I need to apply to graduate?
Yes. You must apply to graduate regardless of ceremony participation. For information on how to apply for graduation, visit https://students.asu.edu/registration/graduation-apply.

Do I need to register to participate in commencement?
Graduates will submit a single registration for both the university commencement and the college or school convocation event. If you would like to include your personal message along with a photo, you will need to complete the Virtual Graduation Registration. The deadline to submit a photo and personal message is Monday, November 30, 2020. 

Do I need to register to participate in convocation (school/college ceremonies)?
Graduates will submit a single registration for both the university commencement and the college or school convocation event. If you would like to include your personal message along with a photo, you will need to complete the Virtual Graduation Registration. The deadline to submit a photo and personal message is Monday, November 30, 2020. 

Will there be special interest convocations?
Special Interest Convocations will be held virtually this December.

Are we allowed to visit campus to take graduation photographs?
The safety of our community is extremely important right now as COVID-19 continues to spread across the Phoenix metropolitan area and throughout Arizona. To help reduce the number of people becoming infected with COVID-19, ASU encourages everyone to follow current state guidance to stay home and practice physical distancing as much as possible. 

Grad Images will be scheduling in-person, cap and gown photos on each of the ASU campuses in November. More information will be posted soon. 

Please visit https://graduation.asu.edu/get-social to view and download a number of images and backgrounds to help you celebrate your acheivement.   By using this alternate visual imagery, students can create mementos to commemorate this special occasion.

Do I need to participate in a ceremony to graduate?
No. If students choose not to take part in any ceremony and their university academic requirements are met, similar to prior years, students will receive their diplomas in the mail.

How will I receive my diploma?
If your university academic requirements are met, similar to prior years, students will receive their diplomas in the mail. Diplomas are mailed approximately six to eight weeks after the degree conferral date. Graduates will receive an email notification via their ASU email account when their diploma has been mailed. Diplomas are mailed to the student's diploma mailing address, which can be viewed and updated from My ASU. For more information, visit https://students.asu.edu/diploma.

I am not participating in commencement or any convocation ceremonies. How do I request my diploma case?
Graduates who do not plan to return for future graduation celebrations may request to have a diploma case mailed directly to them. You can request your diploma case by contacting your college.

Can I still purchase a cap and gown? 

• Yes! See https://graduation.asu.edu/graduates/dressing for infomation about graduation regalia.
• Fall 2020 Grad Fair will take place online from  Friday, Oct. 16 at 10 a.m. EST to Friday, Oct. 23 at 10 p.m. EST.
• To purchase regalia, visit the Herff Jones website

Graduation announcements.
If graduates have questions or concerns on their announcements, please email help@southwestgrad.com and the Herff Jones representatives will respond directly.

Are there Class of 2020 shirts available, and if so, how do I purchase one?
Yes. The ASU Class of 2020 shirt — which has the names of the entire May 2020 undergraduate or graduate class — is available for purchase on the Sun Devil Campus Stores website.

How do I get my honor cords?
You can request your honor cords by visiting, https://students.asu.edu/graduation/honor-cord-request, and the university will mail them to you.

Honor cords are for undergraduates who have earned at least 56 credit hours of resident credit at ASU. Your current GPA as verified at the time you request your honor cords will determine which cords you are given. For more information, visit https://students.asu.edu/graduation-ceremonies.

Why do we need to pay a graduation fee?
It's common for universities to have a fee associated with graduation. The graduation fee pays for items such as the diploma, diploma case and honor cords. The fee is paid at the time you apply for graduation.