Participation is open to degree candidates who have completed their requirements in the current academic year or will complete them by the upcoming Summer term. To participate, you must submit your Graduation Application by April 15th and specifically check the box that confirms "Yes, I would like to participate in commencement."

Commencement is reserved for graduates of the current academic year. Exceptions can be made and require special approval. You must submit a request to the Exception Request form. Please allow 2-3 business days for a response regarding your eligibility status.

Transfers between ceremony locations are not automatic and are treated as special requests. You must officially notify the Commencement Office by submitting a request to the Exception Request form. Please allow 2-3 business days for us to review your request and manually update your ceremony status

Students who have already submitted their Graduation Application will start receiving official information from Tassel starting in January. If you apply after that date, don't worry, you will be added to the system and start receiving emails within one week of your application date.

1. Submit your Graduation Application. Make sure you check the box on the application that says "Yes, I would like to participate in commencement."
2. Follow the Tassel registration link sent to your student email.
3. Complete your ceremony registration and claim your tickets via the Tassel system by May 9th.

If you have submitted your Degree Finalization Request and received the January commencement emails, you are in our system. You will receive a final confirmation when it is time to claim your tickets in June.

No, there is no separate fee to participate in the ceremony, though you must purchase your own cap and gown.

• Graduation Application: The university form where you apply to graduate and declare your intent to walk.
• Tassel: The third-party system used closer to the ceremony to manage guest tickets and generate your GradPass.

First, check your student mailbox and check your spam folder. If you have completed your Graduation Application and still have not received anything, please fill out the Inquiry Form so we can verify your status. 

Ensure you are using your NLU student email address. The tassel account is not a single sign-on, so your password will not be the same as the NLU Portal. You will have to create a new password. If you don’t remember your password click on “forgot password”. If the system does not recognize you, submit a help request via the Inquiry Form.

Verify you are logged into your NLU account. If the error persists, contact us via the Inquiry Form immediately to ensure your intent is recorded before the deadline.

Order online through Herff Jones. You cannot purchase these directly from the university.

We strongly recommend placing your order on the Herff Jones website by May 6, 2026. Orders submitted after this date will incur an additional $13.99 shipping fee. The final deadline to order is May 21, 2026; orders placed after this date may not arrive in time for the commencement ceremony. Orders take approximately 2–3 weeks to ship to your home, so plan accordingly and order early.

Do not guess. Contact the Herff Jones representatives directly for the correct selection: Maureen Olson (312-316-1876) molson@herffjones.com

NLU staff cannot access your Herff Jones order details. Please contact the Herff Jones representatives directly for any questions you may have regarding your regalia order. Our Herff Jones representative is Maureen Olson (312-316-1876) molson@herffjones.com

Full Regalia: Arrive wearing your gown, cap, tassel, and hood.

Attire Underneath: Wear formal or business attire under your gown.

Cap Security: Use bobby pins to secure your cap, especially if it fits loosely. A limited number will be available at the check-in desk.

Travel Light: There is no storage at the venue, so leave personal belongings in your vehicle.

• Undergraduates:Start with the tassel on the right. You will move it to the left during the ceremony.
• Masters/Doctoral: Wear the tassel on the left.

• Masters: Wear your hood to the ceremony. Place it around your neck with the velvet side up. Fasten the cord to a button on your shirt or gown to keep it away from your neck.
• Doctoral: Carry your hood over your arm. You will be hooded on stage.

Kendall College Associate's/Certificate graduates wear a Commencement Alumni Chef Jacket (purchased via shopnlu.com), black dress pants/skirt, and a chef toque. You do not wear a traditional gown. The final deadline to order is May 21, 2026

Tasteful decoration is generally permitted. 

Every graduate is guaranteed 4 guest tickets. You can claim your tickets on Tassel, once you have registered. Use the tassel dashboard to view and manage your tickets, including printing and sending them to your guests’ emails. 

Tickets are electronic. After registering, you can view and manage your tickets in the Tassel ceremony platform, including printing them and sending them to your guests.

Each student is guaranteed 4 guest tickets. If you need more, reach out to commencement@nl.edu. We cannot guarantee you more than 4 tickets, but we can add you to the waitlist on a first-come, first-served basis in case any extra tickets become available. 

Children 4 years and older need a ticket. Children 3 and under do not need a ticket if they sit on a lap.

Graduates must arrive at least 90 minutes (1.5 hours) before the ceremony starts.

Enter the Arie Crown Theater through the main entrance and proceed immediately to the lower level for the graduate line-up.

No ticket is required. At check-in in the lower lobby on the day of the ceremony, you will receive a name card with the correct pronunciation of your name for stage announcements.

Graduates are seated by degree program. You may sit with friends only if they are receiving the same degree (e.g., both receiving a B.A. in Psychology).

• Bring: Cap, gown, and phone.
• Leave Behind: Purses, bags, coats, and umbrellas. You cannot carry these on stage, and there is no secure storage.
• There is no storage at the venue. We strongly recommend leaving personal belongings in your vehicle.

Please use the Accommodation Request Form to request accommodations.

Doors open one hour prior to the ceremony. The procession begins 20 minutes before the ceremony's scheduled start time. Late arrivals may not be seated until after the procession ends.

Parking: Lot C (Lakeside Center Underground Garage)

• Address: 2227 Fort Dearborn Drive, Chicago, IL 60616 (Look for the Parking Lot C sign)
• Parking Rate: Up to 16 hours: $27
• Entrance: All graduates and guests will enter through the front lobby of the venue.

Entrance Instructions:

1. Upon arriving at the ticket dispenser, press the button to receive a ticket.
2. Take the ticket; the gate will open.
3. Enter the lot and park in an available space. ADA-designated accessible parking space are located near the accessible entrances.
4. Important: Please hold onto the parking ticket you received — you will need it to exit the garage.

Exit Instructions:

1. At the exit verifier lane, scan your ticket under the scanner. The parking rate will appear on the screen.
2. Scan your QR code under the same scanner. The system will beep to confirm the scan.
3. The gate will open.
4. Exist the parking facility.

Yes. Balloons, strollers, and large bags/backpacks are NOT permitted in the theater. All guests pass through metal detectors.

Yes, the venue has wheelchair-accessible seating. The walk from the drop-off point to the seating area takes approximately 15 minutes. To shorten that distance ever so slightly, guests requiring accommodations can be dropped off at Gate 38. Note: NLU or the venue does not provide wheelchairs or canes for guests to use, so please bring your own.

Honors (e.g., Summa Cum Laude) are based on GPA and printed in the program. Official cords are provided by the university. You may also wear cords from official NLU Honor Societies. You can find more information on honors here.

Diplomas are mailed to your address on file several weeks after your degree is officially conferred. They are not handed out at the ceremony.

If your name is misspelled or has legally changed, you must submit documentation to the Registrar’s Office immediately at records.nl.edu. The name on your diploma comes from your official student record, not the ceremony registration.

You may still participate in the commencement ceremony, but your official diploma and transcripts will not be released until all financial holds are cleared.