Commencement Headquarters

This policy specifies the criteria and procedures for student use of regalia (cap and gown) as well as other symbols of distinction or ornamentation at Centre College commencement exercises. The College recognizes the importance of stoles in symbolizing academic achievement, participation in college activities, and celebration of identity. 

Centre pays for your cap and gown.  For modest extra cost, you may purchase a customized stole from the vendor.  You may choose among four background color options for your stole, and then customize it with a variety of student club, organization name, varsity athletic team, scholarship cohort, and identity marker seals and logos. To complete your custom stole, visit the Jostens website. Enter Centre College in the Find My School search. From the landing page, select Personalized Stoles and build your stole. Custom stoles will be delivered to the customer. Complete your order no later than April 12 to ensure on-time delivery.

If the stole options described above do not include a Centre affiliation group or social identity marker or do not adequately represent that affiliation group or social identity, permission may be requested to wear an alternative or additional stole or ornamentation.  Centre affiliation refers to scholarship groups, affinity groups, academic societies or similar. Social identity refers to ability/disability, ethnicity, faith background, gender identity, national origin, race, and sexual orientation.

Permission requests are submitted to the Commencement Committee composed of fellow seniors, administrators, and faculty and staff members. The student or applying organization will be responsible for the cost of any such regalia. Your application must be submitted for review by 03/30/2023.

Commencement Regalia Application

NOTE: All adornments must be school-approved and must not disrupt the formality of the occasion. No adornment may contain vulgar language or offensive images, draw undue attention to an individual person or group that would detract from the occasion, or include other inappropriate content. We believe that these guidelines are necessary to ensure that our commencement ceremonies are respectful and dignified. We also understand that our students have the right to express themselves, and we hope that you will use this opportunity to personalize your graduation regalia in a tasteful and appropriate manner. Students not in compliance with the requirements of this policy may be asked to remove and/or conceal any unapproved regalia adornment.

The Registrar′s Office will review and approve each student′s academic record. Once approved, potential graduates are presented to the faculty having completed requirements for a degree.

Students eligible for graduation on Sunday, May 21, 2023 must formally complete all academic and degree requirements one of the following dates December 9, 2022, January 25, 2023, or May 17, 2023, to be eligible to participate in the ceremony and receive their diploma. Students that complete degree in requirements in December and January will officially graduate and be awarded a diploma at the May ceremony. If members of the Class of 2023 have any questions about their academic record, they should contact the Registrar′s Office as soon as possible

Contacting the Registrar′s Office: 
Jacob Johnson 
Assistant Registrar
jacob.johnson@centre.edu 
859.238.5361 

Students are required to participate in the May 21 ceremony. If students do not plan to participate in person, approval must be granted from the Academic Affairs Office. Please contact Associate Dean Alex McAllister at alex.mcallister@centre.edu to make a formal request to graduate in absentia no later than Friday, April 14, 2023.

For students with an account balance, bills are sent at the beginning of each month. The balance due on the bill must be paid in full for Seniors to participate in Commencement Weekend and receive a diploma. Make your payment as early in April as possible to confirm your participation in graduation. Any additional fines, charges, or fees on a student account must be paid to be cleared for graduation. Charges accrued after May 1st will be billed to the student in June, following Commencement.

Financial charges to consider: 

• Tuition/Room and Board  
• Library fines and overdue or lost items 
• Parking tickets  
• Wellness Center charges 
• Fines from DPS  
• Bookstore charges 
• Residence hall damage charges

Residence Halls will close at 6:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 21. Graduates must be completely moved out of their residence hall at that time. Contact your Resident Assistant to find out about checkout and key return.

Baccalaureate is a Centre tradition dating back to the College’s Presbyterian heritage. Now drawing from the wider diversity of traditions that characterize the Centre community, the ceremony of reflection and challenge inspires graduates spiritually on their journey forward. This ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 20, 2023.

The Honor Walk Ceremony was born in 2003 with Centre's 20th President, John A. Roush. Each year on the eve of Commencement the senior class gathers at Old Centre to honor those who had the most profound impact on their Centre Experience.

If your Senior is participating in Honor Walk, make sure they are seated no later than 6:45 PM in front of Old Centre. Seniors and honorees will sit together on the Walnut Street (left) side of Old Centre. Other guests should sit on the Main Street (right) side. The first row has reserved seating for guests needing special assistance. Seating at this ceremony is first come, first serve. NOTE: This ceremony takes place before sunset, bottled waters and fans will be provided.

Kentucky weather in May is typically sunny, very hot, and humid. Please plan accordingly by checking the most recent weather forecast. Most guests wear dressy casual attire throughout the weekend. It is important to be comfortable, wear comfortable shoes, and bring a hat and umbrella! Guest seating for the Honor Walk Ceremony and weekend meals takes place outside.

Seating inside Newlin Hall is limited to up to 4 tickets per Senior. Guests who do not have tickets inside Newlin Hall for Baccalaureate and the Commencement Ceremony are invited to join us at simulcast viewing areas in Weisiger Theater and the Roush Campus Center. Remember, anyone can view the Baccalaureate and Commencement ceremonies from a mobile device. Please direct your family and friends to to this page to watch the live stream!