SMU's 108th Commencement Weekend is May 12 and 13, 2023. The activities that make up Commencement Weekend showcase some of the University's best traditions and are designed to recognize the pride we all feel in our students' accomplishments. The spirit of community combined with our celebration of the individual is what makes SMU's Commencement a special time.
Below you will find schedules and descriptions of the events that make up Commencement Weekend.
Location: Moody Coliseum
Time: 8:30 a.m.
On Saturday morning, the All-University May Commencement assembles degree candidates from all of SMU's schools and professional programs. Commencement speakers will offer their congratulations to our newest class of graduates and President Turner will confer degrees. Doctoral students (Ph.D., Ed.D., DE, and DLS) will receive recognition as they cross the stage. All other students receive individual recognition at their school/department ceremonies. At the conclusion of the ceremony, "Varsity" is played and a prayer is said for the new alumni.
Candidate tickets are required for entry into Moody Coliseum. Tickets are required for guests. Please see Request Commencement Tickets for more information. Guests who prefer to sit indoors may watch the ceremony at the simulcast location in Dedman Center for Lifetime Sports.
Guests with limited mobility attending the Saturday morning All-University Commencement may park in the Binkley Parking garage Binkley Drive. To park in this location, a current state-issued disabled parking placard and/or license plate are needed. Otherwise, guests may be dropped off on Saturday morning at Moody Coliseum and drivers can then park in any SMU parking garage.
Guests who are unable to attend the ceremony may stream it at smu.edu/live.
The academic school or departmental ceremony is an opportunity for each program to celebrate as a cohort group and honor each graduate as they walk across the stage. Contact your particular school or department for more information.
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Location: McFarlin Auditorium
• Tickets are required.
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Location: McFarlin Auditorium
• Tickets are required.
Contact: simmonsgraduation@smu.edu
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Location: McCord Auditorium, Dallas Hall
Contact: Emily Rasch, 214-768-2495, erasch@smu.edu
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Location: Mack Ballroom, Umphrey Lee Center
Contact: Diana Coon, 214-768-1346, dcoon@smu.edu
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Location: Moody Coliseum
Contact: Bobbye Heine, 214-768-2108, bheine@smu.edu
• No tickets required
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Location: Annette Caldwell Simmons Hall 138/144
Contact: Alan Itkin, 214-768-4202, aitkin@smu.edu
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Location: Bridwell Library, Blue Room
Contact: Karen Delk, 214-768-4011, kdelk@smu.edu
Mathematics and Statistical Science
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Location: Hughes-Trigg Ballroom
Contacts: Math - Dan Reynolds, 214-768-4339; Statistics - Sheila Crain, 214-768-1426, scrain@smu.edu
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Location: Hughes-Trigg, Oren Family Auditorium
Contacts: Bethany Ham, 214-768-4924, bham@smu.edu
• Tickets are required.
Time: 12:30 p.m.
Location: McCord Auditorium, Dallas Hall
Contact: Stephanie Schwob, 214-768-2946, sschwob@smu.edu
Time: 12:30 p.m.
Location: Mack Ballroom, Umphrey Lee Center
Contact: Mary Felipe, 214-768-2946, mfelipe@smu.edu
Time: 12:30 p.m.
Location: Caruth Auditorium, Owen Arts Center
Contact: Melissa Emmert, 214-768-4171, memmert@smu.edu
• Tickets are required.
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: O'Donnell Auditorium, Owen Arts Center
Contact: Sherry Aikman, 214-768-8347, saikman@smu.edu
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Location: Hughes-Trigg Ballroom
Contact: Margi Evans, 214-768-2984, mfevans@smu.edu
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Location: Mack Ballroom, Umphrey Lee Center
Contact: Mandy Graham, 214-768-2611, mtgraham@smu.edu
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Location: McCord Auditorium, Dallas Hall
Contact: Lacey DeMara, 214-768-4306, ldemara@smu.edu
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Location: Mack Ballroom, Umphrey Lee Center
Contact Tiffany Powell, 214-768-2684, tapowell@smu.edu
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Location: Hughes-Trigg Auditorium
Contact: Mary Varela, 214-768-2217, mvarela@smu.edu
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Location: Hughes-Trigg Ballroom
Contact: Karen Delk, 214-768-4011, kdelk@smu.edu
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Location: McFarlin Auditorium
Contact: Margaux Montgomery, 214-768-4337, margauxm@smu.edu
• No tickets required
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Moody Coliseum
Contacts: Dee Powell, 214-768-3012, dpowell@smu.edu; Barbara Mohrle, 214-768-4142, bmohrle@smu.edu
• No tickets required
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Location: Moody Coliseum
Contacts: Dee Powell, 214-768-3012, dpowell@smu.edu; Julie Maass, 214-768-3537, jmaass@smu.edu
• No tickets required
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Location: McFarlin Auditorium
Contacts: Mallory Trumpfheller, 214-768-5141, medens@smu.edu; Mary Endsley, 214-768-5130, mendsley@smu.edu
• Tickets are required.
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Location: Highland Park United Methodist Church
Contact: Joe Monroy, 214-768-2152, jmonroy@smu.edu
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Location: McFarlin Auditorium
Contacts: Kimberly Rutigliano, 214-768-1022, krutigliano@smu.edu; Brenda Park, 214-768-8446, blpark@smu.edu
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Moody Coliseum
Contacts: Misti Compton, 214-768-3415, mcompton@smu.edu; Jim Dees, 214-768-1456, jdees@smu.edu
• No tickets required
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: McFarlin Auditorium
Contact: Meadows Operation and Events, (214)-768-2713, (214)-768-4211
Meadows Recognition Ceremony - Meadows School of the Arts, SMU
Location: McFarlin Auditorium and Dallas Hall Rotunda
(Undergraduate students only)
The Baccalaureate Service is a non-denominational religious ceremony held the Friday evening before May Commencement in McFarlin Auditorium. This small and intimate service features a special sermon for undergraduate candidates and their guests. The service lasts approximately one hour. Seating in McFarlin Auditorium is limited; therefore, candidates may request two guest tickets. Extra tickets not requested for Baccalaureate are distributed on the stairs in front of McFarlin Auditorium at 4:00 p.m. Please see Request Weekend Tickets for more information. The ceremony is simulcast in the Hughes-Trigg Theater or can be viewed at smu.edu/live.
One of the University's most symbolic traditions is Rotunda Passage, which includes both a processional and a recessional. The processional occurs the day before students' first day of classes as new students. Students process through the back of Dallas Hall, through the Rotunda and onto the quad as a new member of the SMU student body. This tradition is concluded with the Rotunda Recessional following the Baccalaureate Service during Commencement Weekend. Undergraduate candidates, led by faculty and alumni marshals, march through the front doors of Dallas Hall, through the Rotunda and around to the quad.
Rotunda Recessional is a symbolic departure from campus and serves as a welcome to the newest members of the SMU alumni family.
Alumni who are parents of graduating seniors are welcome to participate as marshals for Baccalaureate. Please contact Mary Margaret Carrillo at marymargaret@smu.edu.
Guests with limited mobility attending the Baccalaureate service on Friday, May 12 may park behind McFarlin Auditorium in the M Lot. A current state-issued disabled parking placard and/or license plate is needed. Otherwise, guests may be dropped off by McFarlin Auditorium on Boaz Lane and drivers may park in any SMU parking garage.
All celebrations for graduating seniors, both those residing in the commons or alumni of the commons, are held immediately following the All-University Commencement outside their respective Residential Common. If it rains, celebration items can be picked up from the Residential Common's lobby.
The SMU Class of 1973 celebrates its 50-year reunion the weekend of May 12-13, 2023. Led by reunion co-chairs, our reunion groups will receive special recognition during the Commencement ceremony. Later that afternoon, they will officially become Golden Mustangs. For more information or to register for your 50th reunion, please contact SMU Reunion Programs at 1-800-766-4371, by e-mail reunionyear@smu.edu or by visiting smu.edu/50years.