The ceremony will take place at the Waterloo Convention Center. Ceremony time is 11 a.m.; doors open at 10 a.m.

Graduation ceremonies typically run 90 minutes.

The venue can accommodate up to eight guests per graduate. Tickets are not required to be admitted into the venue. 

Accessible seating for those with wheelchairs or other mobility challenges will be available.

Accessible parking is available near the venue.

After the ceremony, graduates and guests are welcome to gather for photos.

A professional photographer will take individual pictures of each student during the ceremony. Allen College provides the individual diploma pictures. Additional photos may be ordered via Carol Hanson Photography. The photographer will mail all photos to you.

The ceremony will be live streamed and available on the Allen College Facebook page. The ceremony will also be downloaded to YouTube and available to view after the ceremony.

For information on parking, places to stay and dining near the Waterloo Convention Center, you can plan your visit in advance through Waterloo Convention Center at Sullivan Brothers Plaza.

Once your eligibility for graduation has been preliminarily verified by the Register’s office, you'll receive an email invitation to apply for graduation. This will be sent to your Allen College email.

• Fall graduates: Invitations are sent starting mid-September.
• Spring graduates: Invitations are sent starting mid-January.
• Summer graduates: Invitations are sent starting mid-May. 

After you finish all the requirements for a certificate or degree, you'll officially graduate from that part of your program. Your achievement will be awarded and recorded on your transcript and diploma.

Completing the Graduation for Application ensures we have your most up-to-date information, such as:

• The name you want printed on your diploma.
• The mailing address to send the printed diploma.
• Graduation Fee is included on the last semester’s bill at the beginning of the semester and covers conferring of degrees, evaluation of transcript, attire, diploma, venue, etc.

Transcripts will be sent to certifying boards once your degree is conferred through Parchment. If you have not requested your transcript via Parchment online, it will not be sent. 

A final transcript is sent to your most current local address on file in the Registrar’s Office following completion of all course requirements. Additional transcripts will need to be requested online via the Allen College website.

Your Allen College email address will be terminated at the end of the month you graduate. Please move all content needed to a personal email account, as you will no longer have access after the 31^st.

If you need information from Blackboard, MyPulse, Exxat or Cornerstone, please make sure to save it elsewhere prior to the 31^st. After this date, you will no longer have access to any of these applications.

Graduates will need to arrive 60 minutes for check-in before the ceremony begins and must complete check-in. The ceremony will begin promptly as scheduled.

When you arrive at the Waterloo Convention Center, please dress in your graduation attire. There will be a room labeled Students for you to primp and dress. In addition, you will need to do the following:

1. Collect your name card from the check-in table
2. Get your individual photo taken with the photographer

At check-in you will receive a card with your name on it. This is the card you will hand the reader as you go on stage to receive your award. Please keep this card with you. 

You will line up for the graduation ceremony at 10:50 a.m. Program signs will be visible to line up alphabetically order.

There will be Allen College representatives to lead you to and from your seats during and after the graduation ceremony. If you have questions, we will be available to answer them on Friday at the check-in table.

The Waterloo Convention Center will not be locked or monitored during the Commencement Ceremony.

You are encouraged to secure personal items (purse, bags, etc.) in your vehicle, with friends or family, etc., before arriving at the Commencement Ceremony.

Neither Waterloo Convention Center or Allen College will be responsible for any items left unattended.

Allen College proudly celebrates the accomplishments of our graduates with a Commencement Ceremony held each May, honoring spring graduates; August, honoring summer graduates; and December, honoring fall graduates. This special event is a chance to recognize all that you've achieved!

While attending the ceremony is optional, we encourage all graduates to join in the celebration.

Graduation attire is ordered once you complete the Application for Graduation.  You will be notified via email when your attire is ready for distribution.  Typically, 2-3 weeks prior to the ceremony.

Make sure you have a cap, tassel, gown and hood (graduate students only). Gowns, if hung, should be ready to wear. All graduation attire is yours to keep. Do not alter or decorate your cap in any way. We will have extra caps at the venue and will remove decorated hats at our discretion.

Each graduation ceremony may include student speakers. Students will cast ballots for a student they wish to represent their school. Since there is more than one program in each school, the top vote receivers for each program will be randomly selected to represent the school.

Academic honors announced at graduation are based off the cumulative grade point average from the previous required semester and are awarded

for 3.50 or above (we will not round up). Cords will be included in with your regalia. 

Final honors reflected on your transcript will be calculated based on all grades earned at Allen College. 

Diploma covers are presented on the day of graduation. You will receive a replacement sheet in your diploma cover the day of graduation. Actual diplomas and certificates are sent to students in approximately eight-ten weeks via mail once degrees have been verified.