Preparation to Graduate
Commencement is a day to remember for graduates, parents, friends and the entire Detroit Mercy community. To make the day go as planned, it’s important to have the right preparation for you and your guests.
To help you prepare, be sure to check out the information here on the Grad Salute in March, caps and gowns, parking, and local hotels.
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Baccalaureate Mass
Date: May 13, 2023
Baccalaureate Mass is an integral part of the Commencement activities. Candidates and guests of all faiths are invited to join this Catholic Mass thanking God for our blessings and praying for the future.
Mass for all three campuses — Dental, Law and McNichols — begins at 11:30 a.m in St. Ignatius Chapel, located inside the Commerce and Finance building on campus. Cap and gowns are not required.
If you would like to volunteer or take part in planning, please contact Anna Lawler, University Minister for Faith Formation, at lawleran@udmercy.edu.
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Caps and gowns
Caps are allowed to be decorated as long as they follow the Cap Decoration Guidelines
Caps, gowns, and tassels (and stoles for bachelor degrees and hoods for master, specialist and doctoral candidates) can only be ordered online. The website for placing an order can be found at herff.ly/udmercy.
Prices vary by degree. Bachelor $45.25, Masters/Specialist $52.50 and Doctoral $77.50. There is a standard shipping and handling rate of $13.95 within the U.S. plus sales tax.
Your cap & gown (and stole or hood) will be shipped directly to you. Please allow 3-4 weeks for delivery.
The last day for regular online orders is Tuesday, April 13, 2023. For orders between April 14-25, a RUSH order can be placed. which will incur a RUSH $50 expedited charge in addition to the regular shipping fee. Tuesday, April 25, 2023 is the LAST day to place a rush order.
No orders will be accepted after April 25, 2023
Attire
Commencement is a formal academic ceremony. Although Calihan Hall is not air-conditioned, please dress accordingly. With thousands of graduates, faculty and guests, depending on the weather, it may be warm. Because you will be standing in line and marching both inside and outdoors for over an hour, comfortable shoes are recommended.
Gown decoration is strictly limited to University, college and school honor regalia. A listing of the approved items may be obtained from your college or school office or the Office of the Registrar. Candidates whose caps and gowns do not comply with the academic standards will not be permitted into the arena. You may not wear a cap and gown from another institution. All bachelor degree candidates will be wearing a Detroit Mercy stole with their cap and gown. These can be purchased separately online if you already own a cap and gown.
Cap and Gown Tassel and Hood Colors for Degree Majors
Bachelor Degree Tassel Colors Bachelor Degree Majors
Tassel Color
Accounting
Drab
Addiction Studies
Golden Yellow
Architectural Engineering
Orange
Architecture
Blue-Violet
Biochemistry
Golden Yellow
Biology
Golden Yellow
Business Administration
Drab
Chemistry
White (BA), Golden Yellow (BS)
Civil Engineering
Orange
Communication Studies
White
Computer Science
Golden Yellow
Criminal Justice
Golden Yellow
Cybersecurity
Golden Yellow
Developmental Psychology
White
Economics
White
Electrical Engineering
Orange
Engineering
Orange
English
White
Financial Economics
White
Health Information Management & Technology
Golden Yellow
Health Services Administration
Golden Yellow
History
White
Industrial/Organizational Psychology
White
Liberal Studies
White
Mathematics
White (BA), Golden Yellow (BS)
Mechanical Engineering
Orange
Nursing
Apricot
Nursing Degree Completion
Apricot
Philosophy
White
Political Science
White
Psychology
White
Religious Studies
White
Robotics and Mechatronic Systems Engineering
Orange
Social Work
Citron
Theatre
White
Master Degree Tassel/Hood Colors Graduate Degree Majors
Tassel/Hood Color
Addiction Counseling
White
Adult-Gerontology CNS
Apricot
Advanced General Nursing
Apricot
Applied Data Analytics
Golden Yellow
Architecture
Blue-Violet
Business Administration
Drab
Civil Engineering
Orange
Clinical Nurse Leader
Apricot
Community Development
White
Community Mental Health Counseling
White
Criminal Justice
White
Cybercrime
Golden Yellow
Economics
Copper
Electrical Engineering
Orange
Environmental Engineering
Orange
Ethical Leadership
Golden Yellow
Family Nurse Practitioner
Apricot
Financial Economics
Copper
Health Services Administration
Golden Yellow
Industrial/Organizational Psychology
White
Information Assurance
Golden Yellow
Intelligence Analysis
Golden Yellow
Leadership
White
Liberal Studies
White
Mechanical Engineering
Orange
Nursing & Healthcare Leadership
Apricot
Physician Assistant
Golden Yellow
Product Development
Golden Yellow
Religious Studies
White
School Counseling
White
School Psychology
White
Software Engineering
Golden Yellow
Software Management
Golden Yellow
Technical Management
Golden Yellow
Vehicle Cyber Engineering
Golden Yellow
Specialist Degree Tassel/Hood Colors Specialist Degree Major
Tassel/Hood Color
School Psychology
White
Doctoral Degree Tassel/Hood Colors Doctoral Degree Majors
Tassel/Hood Color
Civil & Environmental Engineering
Orange
Clinical Psychology
White
Electrical & Computer Engineering
Orange
Mechanical Engineering
Orange
Nurse Anesthesia
Apricot
Nursing Practice
Apricot
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Graduate Salute
Date: March 16, 2023
All prospective graduates are invited to stop by the Graduate Salute which will be held in the Fountain Lounge in the Student Union on the McNichols Campus from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Representatives from from the following departments will be available to answer questions and provide information to candidates for graduation:
- Center for Career and Professional Development
- College of Business Administration
- College of Engineering & Science
- College of Health Professions and McAuley School of Nursing
- Student Accounting Office
- Office of the Registrar
- Office of Financial Aid
- Graduate Admissions Office
- Alumni Office
- University Ministry
Candidates will also have the opportunity to order their cap and gown online, purchase class rings, graduation announcements/invitations or have a graduation picture taken from the commencement photographers at the Grad Salute.
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Guest ticketing and Calihan Hall seating
Guest Tickets
Graduates are asked to limit the number of guests for Commencement to eight. Tickets are not required for the ceremony.
Accessible Seating
Guest seating is restricted to the upper arena which is accessible only by stairs. A limited number of accessible seating is available on the main floor. Only one family member is permitted to sit with those who require accessible seating. Escorted entry is through the northeast arena door only. Seats are on a first-come, first-serve basis. Strollers will not be accommodated in the accessible seating area.
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Honors and Diploma
Latin Honors
Graduates who have compiled superior academic records during their undergraduate program at Detroit Mercy will have one of the following honors inscribed on their diploma and recorded on their permanent academic transcript: cum laude (3.50 GPA minimum), magna cum laude (3.70 GPA minimum), summa cum laude (3.90 GPA minimum). All coursework in the cumulative GPA at Detroit Mercy is used in the calculation for honors. Transfer students must complete at least 60 hours at Detroit Mercy to be eligible for honors recognition.
The responsibility for determining appropriate academic honors rests with the individual colleges and schools. Candidates enrolled in the Honors Program, who have completed the established requirements of the program, will have honors suitably inscribed as part of their degree name on their diploma.
Candidates expected to complete their degrees in Summer 2023 will not have honors read at Commencement because coursework is incomplete and final GPA is not yet determined. Honors information cannot be altered on Commencement Day. Please refer to the Undergraduate Catalog for information. There are no cords worn at commencement for those receiving Latin honors.
Diploma
If all degree requirements have been met, financial balances including the graduation fee have been paid and the diploma order processed. Diplomas are not distributed during the Commencement Ceremony. Diplomas for Winter graduates will be mailed to students typically by the end of May.
Two Degrees at one ceremony
If you are receiving two degrees at one ceremony, special arrangements need to be made, especially if those degrees are from two different colleges or schools. Please contact the Registrar's Office no later than April 25th to discuss options for participation with the Registrar.
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Locations and Parking
Locations
Share a copy of the McNichols Campus Map with your guests so that they may familiarize themselves with the campus, its facilities and parking areas.
You may also wish to see the Driving Directions page.
Parking
Parking will be crowded and campus traffic will be heavy. Please allow extra time and car pool.
Handicapped parking, in front of Calihan Hall, is limited and restricted to those with valid handicapped stickers or license plates.
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Local Hotels
Suggested Detroit Area Hotel Accommodations
Baymont Inn & Suites
32800 Stephenson Highway
Madison Heights MI 48071
248-588-3388Hampton Inn
32420 Stephenson Highway
Madison Heights MI 48071
248-585-8881Downtown Detroit Courtyard
333 East Jefferson
Detroit MI 48226
313-222-7700Troy Marriott
200 W Big Beaver Road
Troy MI, 48084
248-680-9797Detroit Marriott - Southfield
27033 Northwestern Highway
Southfield MI
248-356-7400Holiday Inn Express - Southfield
25100 Northwestern Highway
Southfield MI 48075
248-350-2400 -
Regalia (Faculty, librarians and academic administration)
Faculty, librarians and academic administration will also be able to use regalia (cap, gown and hood) for this year's annual Commencement Ceremonies on:
- Friday, May 12 (School of Dentistry and Schools of Law)
- or Saturday, May 13 (McNichols Undergraduate and Graduate ceremony).
If you do not have academic regalia, you can order directly from our cap & gown vendor, Herff-Jones. The items for purchase are cap/tam, gown and/or hood. The gown is an eco-friendly design and is made to be used a few times but is not considered a long-term garment. Items are shipped directly to the address you provide during the order process.
Last day to order online for Commencement 2023 is April 13, 2023. Any orders placed April 14 through April 25, 2023 will be charged expedited shipping fees. No orders can be placed online after April 25, 2023 for Commencement 2023.
We encourage early ordering to ensure you receive your order in plenty of time to participate. All orders will be shipped to the address you provide in your order. It is recommended that you don't use your campus address and use a personal address for shipping.
For questions, please contact Jeff Nardecchia, Assistant Registrar at 313-993-3313.