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: 10:00 a.m.
- Place: Lyndon Soccer Field, Under the Tent
Important reminder: Alcohol is not allowed at commencement.
When are Receptions?
- Before the ceremony, Theatre Lobby, light breakfast social for everyone at 8:30 a.m.
- After the ceremony, Stannard Gym, coffee and dessert social for everyone.
When Do Graduates Have To Be There?
The Class of 2026 will be expected to line up at 9:15 a.m. on Sunday, May 17, 2026, in the Rita Bole Gymnasium. Please wear your cap and gown, which is required if you are walking.
How Long Does the Commencement Ceremony Last?
Typically, the ceremony lasts for two 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.
Joe Bertolino, Ed.D.
Former Lyndon State College President Joe Bertolino, Ed.D., will serve as the commencement speaker at the Lyndon campus, where he served as President from 2012 to 2016. Dr. Bertolino was named president of Stockton University in New Jersey in July 2023 and has more than 30 years of experience as a social justice educator and higher education leader. Trained as a social worker, he is known for leading with an “Ethic of Care,” emphasizing dignity, respect, and equitable access to higher education.
Dr. Bertolino previously held senior leadership roles at Southern Connecticut State University and Queens College, City University of New York. He remains a strong advocate for experiential learning, civic engagement, and community-centered education.
“I am so looking forward to returning to the Northeast Kingdom to celebrate the success of Vermont State Lyndon’s Class of 2026. Lyndon is truly special, a place where students are celebrated for who they are and encouraged to turn their passion into a profession,” Bertolino said. “It is an honor to serve as this year’s commencement speaker.”
How Many Guests Are Allowed?
Although no tickets are required for VTSU Lyndon’s commencement ceremony, graduates are encouraged to invite no more than ten to twelve guests to the commencement. 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 Alexander Twilight Theatre, 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. No three-dimensional objects will be allowed on tops of caps. 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 Lyndon campus, please specify your home campus, so that you will have the option of ship to home.
You can buy your regalia beginning January 19 by visiting vtsu.getugear.com to place your order. Orders will be “shipped to home”, so if you’d like your regalia delivered to campus, make sure to use those shipping details when filling out your order. You have until a April 12 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
Ordering is open until May 3.
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. 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?
As most underclassmen won’t be on campus, there should be enough parking space for all the visitors. It’s recommended to carpool whenever possible. Public safety officials will be present before the ceremony to guide the guests to the available parking areas. Please use College Road or McGoff Hill Road for entry. Shuttle service and/or accommodations will be accessible for those who are unable to walk long distances.
Where do Graduates Park?
In order to maximize parking for families, graduating students are requested to park in the Rita Bole Complex or Wheelock parking lots. Thank you!
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. You can find a list of motels, hotels and bed & breakfasts in the area at www.nekchamber.com. Some of the larger hotels you may want to consider are
- The Comfort Inn & Suites (802.748.1500),
- The Fairbanks Inn (802.748.5666)
- The Burke Mountain Hotel & Conference Center
Additionally, you may want to check out The Wildflower Inn, which offers breathtaking views, an in-house restaurant, and access to our world-famous Kingdom Trails.
All of these accommodations are situated approximately 15 to 20 minutes away from the campus.
VTSU Alerts Guest Sign-Up
Stay informed during commencement with important updates, weather alerts, or safety information.
How to sign up:
- Open your text messaging app
- Text VTSUALERT to 67283
That’s it! You’ll be enrolled instantly.
Important notes:
- This is for temporary guest use only
- You will be automatically removed on May 18
- Standard messaging rates apply
- Read all messaging carefully
Consider Downloading the VTSU SAFE App
VTSU SAFE is an essential tool designed to enhance your safety at Vermont State University. This app delivers important safety alerts directly to your device and provides instant access to a variety of campus safety resources. VTSU SAFE is the official mobile safety app of Vermont State University!
Robing Ceremony: Thursday May 7th at 3:30 PM
The Robing Ceremony will be held on Thursday May 7th at 3:30 PM in the Alexander Twilight Theatre Lobby. This event marks the official kick-off ceremony to commencement, where students don their robes, receive awards, and listen to a student speaker. The main speaker is a faculty member, chosen by the senior class.
Seniors, please bring your regalia (cap and gown) for the ceremony. There will be a class picture in the varsity gym following the ceremony so please stick around. Following the class photo, we will have light refreshments available. A professional photographer will also take a class photo.
Family members are welcome to attend this festive occasion, and no tickets are required. Additionally, the event will be livestreamed on our YouTube page, VTSU Performances, for any family members or friends who are unable to attend in person.
Senior Week Activities
The Senior Week Committee plans fun events that take place the week leading up to graduation. Events are currently being planned.
Graduation Rehearsal: Friday, May 15th at 2:00pm
Rehearsal will take place on Friday, May 15th at 2:00pm, starting in the Rita Bole Gymnasium. Rehearsal is the time to get important information about Commencement, to practice the processional, and to understand how you will receive your diploma by taking a practice walk across the platform. Please check to make sure you do not have any exams during this time. Rehearsal will be immediately followed by the senior toast.
What If I Was a December Graduate? Do I Have to Go to Rehearsal?
December graduates are invited to participate in the May ceremony. Rehearsal is strongly encouraged for all graduates, but not required for students who are not able to come to campus until the actual Commencement ceremony. If you do not attend rehearsal, please arrive at the Rita Bole Gym on Sunday promptly at 9 a.m.
Will the Ceremony be Recorded?
A professional video production crew will record the entire ceremony. Kingdom Access Television (KATV) will produce DVDs. Order forms for KATV will be available at the ceremony.
Contact Information:
Kingdom Access Television
802.751.8103
http://katv.org
515 Bay Street, Suite 202
St. Johnsbury, VT 05819
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.
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 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.
What if VTSU is Still Owed Money?
By Sunday, May 17, 2025, 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 x61496 from a campus phone, or (802) 427-1496 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
Graduating seniors are required to contact the residence hall staff and schedule a check-out from their room before the commencement on Sunday, May 17, 2026. Each residence hall will have its own check-out procedure and further information will be provided in May. Meal services in Stevens Dining Hall will end after dinner on Thursday, May 14, 2026. Additionally, all mailbox keys must be returned by May 15, 2026.
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, 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, please contact Korey Kubricki, Conference and Events Coordinator at Korey.Kubricki@VermontState.edu or by phone at 802.728.1794. He will be happy to speak with you!
If you have questions about your eligibility to graduate, please contact the University Registrar’s Office at Registrar@VermontState.edu.