Frequently Asked Questions

The number of guest tickets available to reserve has not yet been decided but will be communicated to graduates and posted on the Guest and Tickets webpage when available. 

Guests will need to work directly with their student to obtain their tickets.  

Graduating students will be able to reserve guest tickets. Students will receive an email from the Commencement team with instructions to request their tickets and send them to their guests. 

Graduating students do not require a guest ticket. 

All guests age 3 and above will require a guest ticket. 

There is no cost associated with a guest ticket. 

Information regarding transportation and parking will be provided to students in the next few months once details have been confirmed with the venue.

Yes, guests requiring additional assistance due to limited mobility should notify the Climate Pledge Arena Guest Services member at the entry door for assistance with a wheelchair transport and guidance to accessible seating. 

Climate Pledge Arena offers wheelchair accessible and low mobility seating on each level of the venue on a first come, first served basis.  

Accessible and Low Mobility Seating Sections:  

See more about accessibility on the Accessibility Guide - Climate Pledge Arena. 

Guest seating at the Climate Pledge Arena is General Admission and is first come, first served. Please only occupy the number of seats for which you have tickets to ensure all guests are provided with access to seating. 

The list of permitted and prohibited items is determined by the Climate Pledge Arena. Please review the Climate Pledge Arena policy for the full list of permitted and prohibited items. 

If a student has guests from outside the United States requiring a travel visa letter, please follow the instructions below. 

International students should complete the Letter Request. Please contact International Student Center (ISC) with questions at (206) 296-6260 or isc@seattleu.edu. 

Domestic students should complete the Special Request Form (e-form) and select the I need a letter stating the following check box and indicate you are requesting a travel visa letter and include guest's full name and relationship to you. Please contact the Office of the Registrar at (206) 220-8030 or commencement@seattleu.edu if you need assistance. 

Information for ordering regalia will be sent to graduating students sometime in Spring Quarter 2026.  

Stoles are an optional add-on and not required for participation in the ceremony. Stoles may be available to students for specific club or program participation. Reach out to your club or program representatives to see if you are eligible for a stole. 

Students are also welcome to buy a stole to wear to the ceremony, as long as it is appropriate. 

There is no option to rent Bachelor or Master regalia, but doctoral regalia is available to rent. More details regarding renting doctoral regalia will be provided to doctoral students in Spring Quarter 2026.

Graduates from Bachelor or Master programs are encouraged to reach out to University Ministry if they are concerned about the cost of purchasing their regalia. University Ministry supports graduating Bachelor or Master students to access regalia for Commencement. If you are a first-gen student and/or a student of high financial need and would like to borrow a cap and gown from the Commencement Closet, please contact cmjustice@seattleu.edu. 

Yes, a link for live stream will be posted on our Program and Livestream page on the day of the ceremony. Feel free to share this link with friends and family ahead of time so they can bookmark it. 

Guests must remain in the stands - the floor is for graduating students, faculty, and staff only. Families and friends may take pictures with graduates outside the arena after the ceremony. 

Photographers will provide close up photo coverage which will be available through GradImages, the official photographer for our Commencement. Graduates at Seattle University can locate their graduation photos about 2 weeks after the event online by visiting the GradImages website.  

The following two pieces of information are required to access their account: 

• Last Name of the graduate 
• Graduation Year 

Reach out to GradImages' Customer Service Department at (800) 261-2576 if you have any questions or need assistance. 

The Office of the Registrar will contact you with guidance and next steps if you are NOT eligible to graduate and/or if you are NOT eligible to attend commencement. To ensure you receive these important notifications, ensure that you have applied to graduate.  

Additional information about commencement will be sent to eligible students throughout the winter and spring quarters as it becomes available. Be sure to keep an eye out in your inbox for emails from commencement@seattleu.edu.

Follow the steps outlined on the Graduation & Commencement webpage. 

Also, keep an eye out in your email for important notifications regarding graduation and commencement, how to sign up for the commencement portal, and how to order your regalia.

These emails will come from commencement@seattleu.edu and be sent to your Seattle University email address throughout winter and spring quarters as more information becomes available.  

Master's, educational specialists and doctoral degree candidates wear hoods appropriate to their degrees and are not eligible for academic honors.   

If you are an undergraduate student graduating with academic honors, you will be notified in late May via email with instructions to pick up your honors hood.  

Per the Honors at Graduation Undergraduate Only (75-21) policy, honors at graduation are awarded with a minimum of 90 Seattle University graded credits and a cumulative GPA as follows: 

Cum Laude - 3.50 to 3.69 

Magna Cum Laude - 3.70 to 3.89 

Summa Cum Laude - 3.90 to 4.00 

Because the Commencement program is printed prior to spring quarter grading, honors printed in that program are calculated as of the winter quarter's grades. Diplomas and transcripts will reflect appropriate honors following spring quarter grading.