Faculty

RSVP

Faculty planning to attend commencement are required to RSVP. All faculty must be registered for the event. If you are unable to attend in person, please join us in celebrating our graduates by watching the ceremony virtually from your home or office at smu.edu/live.

Graduate at the ceremony
December RSVP
May RSVP

December ceremony

Faculty will assemble in academic dress no later than 8:45 a.m. in Miller Champions Club. The faculty process to the floor of Moody Coliseum, led by the retired faculty. Faculty procession begins moving at approximately 9:10 a.m. following the graduation candidates, who take the floor at 9 a.m. Faculty remain standing until the president is seated. With respect to the removal or replacement of mortarboards, follow the lead of President Turner. After the playing of the University hymn, “Varsity,” the Platform Party leads the recessional, followed by the faculty in a single-file line.

Prior to the ceremony, there will be a faculty breakfast beginning at 7:45 a.m. in the Miller Champions Club in the Miller Event Center, directly inside the entrance to the Coliseum on Binkley Avenue. If you want to attend the breakfast, please R.S.V.P. by clicking here. The deadline to RSVP for the breakfast will be Friday, December 8, by 4 p.m.

If you need academic regalia, please contact your department administrator to determine the ordering process. To ensure regalia arrives in time and to avoid any late shipping fees, orders must be placed by Friday, November 10, 2023. After this date, the bookstore will supply faculty with in-stock SMU regalia. Faculty are encouraged to check with their department’s rental policies. To process your order, the following information is needed:

  • First and last name.
  • Height (with shoes).
  • Cap size.
  • Most recent degree and area of study.
  • Name of school where this degree was earned.
  • City and state of school.
  • Phone number.
  • SMU email address.
  • Department on campus.

Please provide the above information via phone, fax, email or in person at the bookstore. If you email or fax the request, please put “To the attention of Commencement Regalia” on your request.

Regalia may be picked up from the SMU Bookstore beginning Saturday, December 9. Regalia must be returned to the bookstore by Monday, December 18.

Please call the SMU Bookstore at 214-768-2435 with questions or concerns about your regalia.

May ceremony

Participating faculty assemble in academic dress no later than 8 a.m. in the Miller Event Center in Moody Coliseum. The faculty entrance is located on the north side of the building on Binkley Avenue. You will pass through security. There will be signs and event staff on hand to direct you. At 8:50 a.m., the faculty marshal will line you up and lead you to the Moody floor for the procession. The procession will begin moving following the chief marshal’s signal to start the faculty march. You will make your way to your seats in the bleachers on the north side of the floor. Faculty remain standing until President Turner is seated. With respect to the removal of mortarboards, follow the lead of President Turner.

At the end of the ceremony, the Platform Party recesses first. Once President Turner has left the stage, the faculty recessional will begins. The faculty marshal will lead the faculty out through the northeast portal of the coliseum.

Prior to the ceremony, there will be a faculty breakfast beginning at 7:15 a.m. in Moody’s Miller Event Center, during which the Thomas W. Tunks Distinguished University Citizen Award will be presented. If you want to attend the breakfast, please RSVP by clicking here. A plated breakfast is served.  If a vegetarian option is preferred, please make this request when you email your RSVP for the breakfast.  The deadline to RSVP for breakfast will be Friday, May 5, by 4 p.m.

If you need academic regalia, please contact your department administrator to determine the ordering process. To ensure that regalia arrives in time and to avoid any late shipping fees, orders must be placed by Wednesday, April 15. Faculty are encouraged to check with their department’s rental policies. To process your order, they will need the following information:

  • First and last name.
  • Height (with shoes).
  • Cap size.
  • Most recent degree and area of study.
  • Name of school where this degree was earned.
  • City and state of school.
  • Phone number.
  • SMU email address.
  • Department on campus.

You may transmit the above information via phone, email or in person at the bookstore. If you call the bookstore, any clerk can assist you. If you email or fax the request, please put “To the attention of Commencement Regalia” on your request.

To ensure that regalia arrives in time, please place your order by Wednesday, April 12. Regalia must be returned to the bookstore by Tuesday, May 16.

If you have specific questions or concerns about your regalia, please contact the SMU Bookstore at:

Email:
mmebus@smu.edu

Phone:
 214-768-2435