Student Information

Order your regalia from Reggie’s Corner!

Store Hours: M-F 11am-7pm & Saturday 10am-2pm

Students can order online for shipping to their house or for pick up in store. https://spiritshop.rockford.edu/collections/regalia

Prices: Undergrad Completed, $40 & Master Completed, $75

Questions? Call Reggie’s Corner at 815-226-4019, or email Alex Johnson at apjohnson@rockford.edu

To be eligible to participate in the 2025 Commencement ceremony, you must meet one of the following requirements:

• All degree requirements completed Fall 2024
• All degree requirements completed Spring 2025
• All degree requirements completed Summer 2025

Students planning to graduate at the end of the Summer 2025 term may petition to participate in the May 2025 Commencement ceremony. In order to be considered, students must:

• Submit an application for graduation;
• Be registered for summer classes;
• Be certified to complete degree requirements by the end of the Summer 2025 term.

Students who meet these requirements may request permission to participate in the May ceremony by sending an email to the registrar at registrar@rockford.edu. Please do not petition before you have submitted your application to graduate and registered for your summer classes or your petition will not be considered. You should note that participation in the ceremony does not constitute actual graduation. You must complete all of your Rockford University requirements in order to receive a diploma and be entitled to a transcript that indicates graduation.

In order to graduate, you must complete a graduation application using the links below.
IF YOU HAVE ALREADY APPLIED TO GRADUATE, YOU DO NOT NEED TO APPLY AGAIN!

• Graduation Application – BACHELORS (Jotform)
• Graduation Application – MASTERS (Jotform)
• For all Jotforms to be processed, students MUST create an account using their Rockford University email address. (@rockford.edu)

Please contact the registrar with any questions >> registrar@rockford.edu

A graduation fee is required, which will be added to your account. Please contact Student Administrative Services (SAS) at 815.394.3700 or sas@rockford.edu with any questions regarding the application fee.

• Commencement Tickets
  • Once your graduation application has been processed, six tickets will be reserved in your name.
  • There is no waiting list for extra tickets.
  • Tickets are required for entry into the Coronado Performing Arts Center.
  • No tickets will be available at the door.
• Stay in the Loop
  • Please check your Rockford.edu email address and this page regularly leading up to commencement for important updates.
• Purchase your cap and gown
  • Academic Dress is required of all graduates participating in Commencement.
  • Regalia can be purchased through the on-campus store “Reggie’s Corner.”
  • Graduates participating in December Recognition are not required to wear academic regalia; please dress in business professional attire.
• Graduation Toast
  • Wednesday, April 29, 2025: Nelson Hall, Alumni Center, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Pick up your graduation tickets in the Scheduling and Events Office before heading upstairs for the toast.
  • Decorate your graduation mortar board, with supplies and toppers provided by the Alumni office. Premade toppers will be available for purchase from Sela Delgado.
  • Enjoy a celebratory toast with the President, Dr. Patricia Lynott
• Ticket pick-up
  • If tickets are not picked up at the graduation toast, they will be available for pickup in the Scheduling and Events Office in Nelson Hall. (More information to come). 
  • If you don’t need all six of your allotted tickets please make them available to others who need extra.
• Name Pronunciation
  • Contact Sarah at sspires@rockford.edu if you think we will have difficulty pronouncing your name.
• Special Accommodations
  • The event location is accessible for those who need special accommodation. Degree candidates who have special needs for themselves or their guests should notify Tara at graduation@rockford.edu
• Becoming an Alumni of Rockford University
  • Please complete the Graduate Information Form – rockford.edu/academics/commencement/student/alumni-graduate-form/.
  • Once you graduate, you will officially become a member of the Rockford University Alumni Association.
  • Don’t miss out on the great events planned by the Alumni Office!

• Arrive early. We advise you to plan ahead and grant yourselves enough time to arrive at the Coronado. You and your guests will need to go through a security checkpoint. You will need to line up by 9:45 a.m. and your family and guests will need to be seated by 9:45 a.m. The procession starts at 10 a.m. 
  • • All degree candidates are asked to report to the back door entrance of the Coronado Performing Arts Center (off of Park Avenue) to officially check in and line up for the Commencement procession. Please plan to arrive between 9:00 and 9:30 a.m.
    • Degree candidates will need to be lined up alphabetically by 9:45 a.m.
    • The main doors for guests will open at 9 a.m.
    • Family and guests will need to be seated by 9:45 a.m.
    • Bachelor’s Degree candidates will line up on the second floor in the Rehearsal Room.
    • Master’s Degree candidates will line up on the third floor.
    • Degree candidates and guests will need to go through a security checkpoint.

•  Parking is free and available in the Coronado parking garage on Main Street. Parking information is found at www.coronadopac.org/plan/parkingdirections/
•  Wear appropriate academic attire. Each student must wear a cap and gown to participate in the ceremony. MAT, M.Ed., and MBA degree candidates will wear hoods as well.
•  Don’t bring personal items. Personal items are not allowed on stage. Please do not bring purses or other personal items. Students are asked not to carry anything in the ceremony. There is no place to check in or store purses, coats, or other personal items. Personal items are not allowed on stage.
• Check-in at the backstage entrance of the Coronado Performing Arts Center (off of Park Avenue). All degree candidates are asked to report to the back door entrance (off of Park Avenue) of the Coronado Performing Arts Center by 9 a.m. to officially check in and line up for the Commencement procession.
•  Follow the order of the processional. Led by the Head Faculty Marshal and the Junior Marshals, degree candidates will process through the corridors and theatre lobby. Faculty will follow the graduates in the procession. The Platform Party, led by their marshal, will complete the procession. When you find your seat, we ask that you please remain standing until instructed otherwise.
• Enjoy the ceremony. The approximate length of the ceremony is two hours. Each student will have their name called, will walk across the stage, receive their diploma cover and a greeting from Dr. Patricia Lynott, President of Rockford University. Students will also have their professional photo taken as they exit the stage.
• Move your tassel. At the beginning of the ceremony, tassels are worn on the right. Upon direction from the podium, the tassel is moved to the left.
• Do not leave the ceremony prior to its conclusion. As a courtesy to other graduates and their guests, we ask that you remain in your seats until the end of the ceremony.

• Expect your diploma in the mail. Degree candidates will not receive their diploma during the Commencement ceremony. Only the diploma cover will be given. All diplomas will be mailed during the summer months. Please make sure that SAS has correct and updated information (both mailing address and telephone number) for contacting you after graduation. If there is a question about the status of your account, please contact SAS at 815.394.3700 or email SAS@Rockford.edu. It is your responsibility to ensure that your university account is up-to-date prior to Commencement. Diplomas will be mailed during the summer months. 
• Order your graduation photos. High Impact Creations LLC, professional photographers will take your photo as you approach the stage and receive your diploma. Photos will be uploaded at Highimpactcreations.com/rockforduniversitycommencement and available to you following commencement. You will be able to download your individual headshots by entering your student ID number when prompted to “Enter a Keyword.” When that happens, any photos that are tagged with your student ID number will be displayed and made available to you to download. There is no charge to have your picture taken. 

High Impact Creations LLC, professional photographers will take your photo as you approach the stage and receive your diploma. Photos will be uploaded at Highimpactcreations.com/rockforduniversitycommencement.

They will be made available to you following commencement. You will be able to download your individual headshots by entering your student ID number when prompted to “Enter a Keyword.” When that happens, any photos that are tagged with your student ID number will be displayed and made available to you to download. There is no charge to have your picture taken.