Graduates and Families,
We are excited to celebrate commencement with you this year! Please find below the guidelines and requirements for attendance for graduates and their guests. Best wishes for a wonderful commencement experience!
When and where is commencement?
- Day and Date: Sunday, May 17, 2026
- Time: 4:00 p.m.
- Place: Johnson Campus, Under the Tent
Important reminder: Alcohol is not allowed at commencement.
When Do Graduates Have To Be There?
The members of the Class of 2026 are required to line up at 3 p.m. on Sunday afternoon in the SHAPE Gymnasium. It is mandatory to wear your cap and gown if you intend to walk during the event. Kindly avoid bringing any personal items as there will be no storage facility available unless you choose to carry them with you.
How Long Does the Commencement Ceremony Last?
Typically, the ceremony lasts for one to one and a half hours. The length of time will vary based on the total number of graduates.
Who is Eligible to Attend the Ceremony?
You must be a matriculated, degree-seeking student and:
- Behave in a manner appropriate to the dignity of the occasion
- Have a 2.0 cumulative GPA (which may be higher for some majors), and a minimum of:
- 36 credits for Master’s candidates
- 120 credits for Bachelor candidates
- 60 credits for Associate candidates
- Meet residency requirements
- Meet all degree requirements in your catalog
- Wear academic regalia in order to process at Commencement
Please note: If your attendance plans have changed since you applied for a degree, please notify Registrar@VermontState.edu.
Guest Speaker Information Coming Soon
Check back to learn who the guest speaker will be for 2026!
How Many Guests Are Allowed?
Tickets are not required, seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Is There Special Seating Available?
Yes, some students have guests who require special assistance during the ceremony. To accommodate them, we remove chairs and make space for wheelchairs under the tent. Additionally, we offer a live broadcast of the ceremony in our Dibden Theater, which is a climate-controlled space with easy access to restrooms. This option has proven useful for some guests who find it too cold, too hot, or too crowded under the tent.
Are Caps and Gowns Required?
To participate in Commencement, you must wear a cap and gown. It is expected that all graduates will dress appropriately for the occasion.
Where Can Cap and Gown Orders be Placed?
All regalia will be shipped directly to the address you specify when you order. If you are planning to walk on the Johnson campus, please specify your home campus, so that you will have the option of ship to home.
You can buy your regalia by visiting vtsu.getugear.com to place your order.
You have until a Date TBD to order, so make sure you visit the site before that date!
Please be prepared to pay for the cap and gown when you place your order.
LPN Students
Please do not order regalia unless you are told to do so by Darlene Jones.
Undergraduates
Do not order a hood.
Master’s Graduates
You can also have regalia shipped to your home. However, for gowns ordered after April 1, there is no guarantee that the shipment will arrive on time.
Please do not forget to order a hood. The complete regalia package (cap, gown, hood, and tassel) costs $74.90. Hoods will be distributed at the ceremony. For more information, please contact the University Gear Shop directly at 802.468.1229.
Cap and Gown Pickup
Caps and gowns will be shipped directly to students.
Where do Guests Park?
Most underclassmen won’t be on campus, so there will be enough parking available for all visitors. If you can, please carpool to help ease traffic. The gates will open at 2 p.m., and parking and seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Handicapped parking and seating will be available as well. It’s recommended that you arrive before 3:30 p.m. There will be a complimentary coffee bar available throughout the afternoon for guests. Public Safety officials will be on campus before the ceremony to direct guests to available parking areas. Please enter from College Road and follow the directions of the officials. Shuttle service will also be available for those who are unable to walk long distances.
Are Pets Allowed?
Please leave your pet at home. Do not leave your pet in your vehicle. The only animals allowed at the commencement ceremony are service animals.
Where Should Guests Make Hotel Reservations?
If you are expecting guests from out of town who will need a place to stay, we recommend that you make hotel reservations as soon as possible. Some of the larger hotels you may want to consider are:
- Governor’s House in Hyde Park
- Serene Country Cabins
- Muddy Moose Log Cabin Lodging
- Sunset Motor Inn
- Smugglers’ Notch Inn
- Smugglers’ Notch Resort
- Sterling Ridge Resort
- Trapp Family Lodge
Numerous options available HERE or call the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce at 877.863.3489.
Flowers will be available for purchase at the event.
UGear will also be on campus selling Vermont State swag.
What Does Graduating With Honors Mean?
Degrees with distinction (AKA “Honors”) are:
- Summa Cum Laude (cumulative GPA of 3.9 or higher)
- Magna Cum Laude (cumulative GPA of 3.7-3.89)
- Cum Laude (cumulative GPA of 3.5-3.69)
Cumulative GPA is based on work completed at VTSU, and students must have completed a minimum of at least 50% of the total graded credits required for graduation at the Vermont State University to qualify for degrees with distinction.
How to Know if You Are Graduating With Honors
Actual honors will be determined by your final cumulative GPA (as of May 2026) and will be indicated on your diploma. If you have achieved the GPA required for distinction as of December 2025, you will receive a gold tassel preceding the commencement ceremony.
Honors Convocation
The Dibden Center for the Arts will host an awards ceremony to recognize the academic accomplishments and outstanding performance of more than 200 students across various departments and programs. Scholarships and endowments, totaling over $112,000, will be presented to students who have demonstrated remarkable achievements in their respective departments, programs, or in general. The entire Johnson campus community, as well as students’ families, are cordially invited to attend this special event and show their support for our students.
Senior Week Activities
The senior week committee plans fun events that take place the week leading up to graduation. Events are currently being planned!
What If I Was a December Graduate?
December graduates are invited to participate in the May ceremony.
Will There Be a Photographer?
During the graduation ceremony, a professional photographer from Graduation Images will take a photo of each graduate receiving their diploma folder. A week after the ceremony, Graduation Images will mail a passport-sized, full-color proof of the photo to the graduate’s home address. There is no obligation to purchase the photo. However, if you wish to order prints of the photo, Graduation Images offers a variety of enlargement packages. For more information, please contact Graduation Images at www.gradimages.com or 800.424.3686.
Are Guests Allowed to Take Photos?
Guests are welcome to take photographs during the ceremony, but they are kindly requested to avoid blocking the aisles or obstructing the view of other guests. We urge all guests to show respect towards the graduates and other attendees. Please remember that there will be ample opportunities to take photographs at the reception after the ceremony.
When Will Diplomas Arrive?
During the commencement ceremony, graduates will receive a diploma jacket with a congratulatory letter from the President. Diplomas are ordered during the summer after the final degree audits are completed. Diplomas will be mailed to graduates in mid-July to the address provided on the graduation application.
Please note that if you have an address change for mailing your diploma, kindly send an email to the Registrar’s Office at Registrar@VermontState.edu. This will ensure your diploma’s secure and timely delivery to the desired address.
How To Get Transcripts
For May graduates, transcripts will be available once final degree audits are completed by mid-June. To order a transcript, please visit Vermont State University Transcript Request.
It is important to note that you must have fulfilled all your financial obligations to the University to successfully place a transcript request.
Is There Anything That Might Effect Eligibility to Graduate?
The most common reasons why students end up being disappointed at the last minute are:
- Final cumulative average falls below 2.0
- Failure to complete degree requirements
- Transcripts not received from other colleges attended
- Incomplete grades not submitted
- Not passing the required graduation standards
What if VTSU is Still Owed Money?
By Sunday, May 17, 2026, please make sure that all of your outstanding accounts at VTSU are paid or resolved. Diplomas and transcripts will be delayed if you have any outstanding account balances.
How to Inform the Dean of Name Pronunciation
Call x51499 from a campus phone, or (802) 635-1499 from a cell phone or off campus phone and follow the instructions provided on the line.
How to Handle Student Loans
If you have received a Federal Student Loan, which includes a Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized and/or Perkins Loan, it is mandatory to complete exit counseling if you are graduating or dropping below half-time enrollment. This requirement is applicable for the Federal Direct Loan program and can be completed online.
- Visit https://studentloans.gov
- Log in using your FSA ID
- Select “Complete Loan Counseling”
- Choose “Exit Counseling” from the selections
- Click “Start”
The session will take about 20-30 minutes to complete. If you have questions regarding your Federal Direct Loans, please contact Student Financial Services at 802.468.6070.
For Students Who Live on Campus
Regular meal service in the dining hall will end with dinner on Friday May, 15, 2026.
Residence halls close on May 15, 2026. Graduating seniors can arrange with Residence Life staff to stay until Saturday, check out before Commencement, and enjoy their commencement afterwards.
Alumni Association
Once you graduate, you become an official member of the Alumni Association. As a member, you can enjoy several benefits such as access to the alumni online community, group discounts on home and auto insurance, continued use of the library, free admission to athletic events, ongoing support from Career Services, and invitations to regional alumni socials. Stay connected with your alma mater by joining the Alumni Association!
Graduate Survey
As a recent graduate of VTSU Johnson, you should receive a postcard from Career Services by late fall 2026. The postcard will contain a link to a quick Graduate Survey. The survey aims to gather information about your current job search and if there is anything we can do to assist you. If you have updated your contact details since your graduation, please feel free to let us know by emailing us at Careers@VermontState.edu.
For general Commencement information, contact:
- Tammy Carter, Coordinator, Office of Graduate Studies 802.635.1227or Tammy.Carter@VermontState.edu
- Barb Flathers, Manager of President’s Office Operations
802.635.1240 or Barbara.Flathers@VermontState.edu
If you have questions about your eligibility to graduate, please contact the University Registrar’s Office at Registrar@VermontState.edu.