School of Education and Human Development & School of Health Professions Undergraduate Ceremony

Saint Joseph’s University contracts with Tassel to support Commencement. All students must RSVP via Tassel and will receive instructions and deadlines via email for how to RSVP and provide their name pronunciation. It is important that you adhere to these deadlines to ensure your information is displayed and pronounced correctly at Commencement. 

Guests of graduates must present tickets to enter the ceremony. Each graduate is allotted six (6) tickets for Commencement. Graduates must RSVP to attend Commencement to claim their tickets; an email will be sent with instructions in early April.

Class of 2026 Senior Events 

Join the Office of Student Life for these fun, festive senior activities and events where you can start to unwind and kick off your graduation celebrations! Information is forthcoming.

Make Your Senior Gift

While senior year might feel full of “lasts,” it also comes with exciting new “firsts,” and the Senior Gift is one of them! It’s an SJU tradition for members of the senior class to contribute the dollar equivalent of their class — in this case, $20.26 — to support future Hawks. This opportunity welcomes you to join the thousands of alumni who give back every year.

Hawks share a collective desire to give back — to connect our talents to need, our skills to solutions and our passions to purpose. By making a gift to the Saint Joseph’s Fund (or any other area of your choice), you’re connecting future students to the first-class education you received here on Hawk Hill.

How do I give?
Give online today. A few dollars can make a huge impact! The Senior Class Connections (SCC) committee is responsible for leading this initiative. Follow SJU Alumni Association on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn and never miss out on events or opportunities to get involved.

Graduate Salute is your opportunity to pick up your regalia in person and have your graduation portrait taken. Note: Regalia must be purchased online prior to March 2 to pick up at Graduate Salute.

• April 7, 2026: University City, IPEX 2nd floor lounge, noon-5 p.m.
• April 8-10, 2026: Hawk Hill, Barnes & Noble, during store hours
• April 17, 2026, Lancaster, Cooper Atrium, noon-5 p.m.

More Information on Graduate Salute

If you are unable to attend the Graduate Salute, you may purchase your regalia online to have it shipped to your house (shipping and handling rates apply). Regalia must be purchased prior to April 16 in order to ship on time for Commencement on May 13. The website will close on April 17, so all regalia purchases will need to be made in store at the Hawk Hill bookstore after this date.

Class Rings, Announcements and Diploma Frames

Class rings, graduation announcements and diploma frames are also available for purchase in the University Bookstore. Graduates can also purchase their ring, announcements or frame online. Shipping time for class rings is approximately six to eight weeks.

Approximately six weeks after Commencement, you will receive your diploma and a translation through the mail. It is delivered to the address you selected when you applied to graduate. For purposes of framing, your diploma is 20 inches wide and 16 inches high.

Latin Honors 

Latin honors will be announced following graduate names at each Commencement ceremony based on seven semesters. Diplomas will reflect Latin honors after the full eight semesters.

Why is the text of my Saint Joseph’s University diploma printed in Latin? 

Higher Education is steeped in tradition. Some of these traditions date from the Middle Ages and are common to many colleges and universities. University diplomas printed in Latin are one of those traditions at North American institutions founded in the 18th and 19th centuries. 

The first Jesuit college, founded in Messina, Italy, in 1548 embraced the literary and rhetorical program of the Italian humanists according to patterns laid down by Cicero and Quintilian. The Jesuits focused their plan of studies on the so-called studia humanitatis, works of poetry, drama, oratory, and history. These essentially literary works were presumed not only to produce eloquence in those studying them but also to inspire noble and uplifting ideals. They would render the student a better human being, imbued especially with an ideal of service to the common good, in imitation of the great heroes of antiquity. One line from Cicero’s De officiis, especially embraced by the Jesuits, sums up this aspect of their educational ideal: “We are not born for ourselves alone,” thus: the contemporary Jesuit mantra, “Men and Women for Others.”

Throughout the formative years of Saint Joseph’s University, the curriculum was grounded in the Jesuit plan of studies, the Ratio Studiorum, which included courses in both Latin and Greek — twenty credit hours of Latin to be taken during freshman and sophomore years. 

Given this training and cultural immersion, it’s understandable that Saint Joseph’s and other institutions committed to classical education would have expected proficiency in Latin from their alumni and to announce that accomplishment proudly by awarding Latin diplomas at commencement ceremonies. Saint Joseph’s is proud to uphold this tradition of providing its graduates their diploma in Latin. 

Why is the date on my diploma different than my Commencement date?

All students who graduate in a given term are awarded their degrees on the same date. The date on the graduation application, and ultimately, the date on your diploma and transcript, reflect the date in which your degree is awarded and not necessarily the date of your specific ceremony.

English Translation of Your Saint Joseph’s University Diploma 

As is tradition at Jesuit institutions in the United States, graduates are presented with a large and ornate degree certificate, the text of which is printed in Latin. Below is an English translation of the text.

The Administrators of Saint Joseph's University and the Society of Jesus in Philadelphia 
For the Greater Glory of God 
To all who view these present letters, greetings in the Lord

By these letters we, given charge of this function by the highest authority of the State testify 
that (Name) duly approved, 
has been advanced to the Baccalaureate/Master of (Arts) OR (Sciences) OR (Business Administration), and has been presented by us with all the rights and 
privileges attached to that degree. And that all might know, we have given these present letters, secured by our corporate seal and by the signature of the President of this University in our academic building in Philadelphia.  

NOTE : Each graduate receives an English translation of their diploma during the Commencement ceremony and with their diploma. 

Ceremony photography will be provided by Melissa Kelly Photography. Please visit the gallery website or text SJU2026 to 90738 to sign up for graduation photo communications via text. Photos will be available to view and purchase on or before May 30. For more information, please email admin@melissakelly.com.

During Graduate Salute, you have the opportunity to purchase a photo session of yourself in your cap and gown with Melissa Kelly Photography.