Updates, resources and information regarding Commencement for graduating BW students.
Fall 2026 Commencement Ceremony will take place on Saturday, December 12, at 11:00 a.m. in the Mainstage Theatre in the Kleist Center for Art and Drama.
Each graduate may invite two guests to attend the Commencement Ceremony.
To claim your tickets, you will use your student ID number (Do not enter the beginning zeros) as your passcode. Your ID number is a single-use passcode. Please claim the number of tickets you need.
Please Note: You will NOT be able to claim tickets multiple times. You can also claim your tickets through the HomeTown Fan app. If you are unable to claim your tickets, please contact info@bw.edu.
Please claim your tickets by November 24. Any unused tickets will be made available to graduates who would like to invite additional guests.
No additional tickets are available. Students with unused tickets may share them with other graduates and their families.
If you have questions regarding tickets that you have claimed, please contact info@bw.edu.
An unlimited number of family members and guests are invited to join graduates for the President’s Reception following the ceremony, from approximately 12 noon–2:00 p.m. in the Austin E. Knowlton Center lobby. Light refreshments and hors d’oeuvres will be served.
The Commencement Ceremony will be livestreamed for family and friends who are unable to attend in person. The livestream will be available on Commencement Day at the BW Commencement website.
You can order your Commencement regalia from the Campus Bookstore, in person or online. Students who pre-ordered their regalia through Josten's can pick up their order at the Bookstore in the lower level of Strosacker Hall. Any graduate who needs regalia should place their order before Tuesday, November 24, 2026 to ensure that it arrives before Commencement Day.
Pre-ordered regalia may be picked up at the BW Bookstore on the lower level of Strosacker Hall beginning December 1, 2026. The deadline for pickup is 4:00 p.m. Friday, December 11. For questions, contact the BW Bookstore at 440-826-2205.
Cords and Stoles: Students earning a bachelor’s degree with honors — a cumulative GPA of 3.6 or higher — will receive Honor Cords from the University. Qualifying students will receive an email with instructions for obtaining their cords.
Stoles and other types of honor cords are distributed by sponsoring organizations. Contact the appropriate organization for information.
All campus parking lots will be open on Commencement Day. Parking is not permitted in designated fire zones.
Accessible parking: Designated accessible parking is available in the BW parking lot immediately behind the Kleist Center for graduates, families and guests with disability placards or limited mobility. Accessible parking is also available throughout campus. Passenger drop-off is available from the Kleist Center driveway off Bagley Road.
For parking questions before Commencement Day, contact Parking Services at 440-826-2410. On Commencement Day, contact Safety and Security at 440-826-2336.
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Detailed information about Commencement events — including rehearsal, the President’s Reception and Baccalaureate Service — can be found at bw.edu/commencement.
BW has partnered with GradImages to provide graduate photos. All graduates will be directed to a photo station immediately after exiting the commencement stage and have a photo taken. For information about ordering photos, visit GradImages online, contact their customer service department at (800) 261-2576 or through email. Students who register with GradImages before Commencement Day at gradimages.com/preregistration can receive a 20% discount on their entire order.
