Processional: 9:50am
Ceremony 10:00am
The University of Montana Western’s 128th Annual Commencement Ceremony will be Saturday, May 10, 2025 at 10:00am in Bulldog Stadium.
This ceremony is to recognize all students who have completed a certificate, Associate’s degree, or Bachelor’s degree during the Summer or Fall 2024 terms, or have applied for an are on track to complete a certificate or degree in Spring 2025. Students must formally submit an Application for Graduation within the posted deadlines and receive a degree audit confirming they have completed or will complete their certificate or degree in the 2024-25 academic year. Students completing their degree in Summer 2025 must apply and receive approval by the Registrar’s Office for Early Graduation if they wish to walk in Commencement in Spring 2025. Any questions regarding eligibility to participate in Commencement should be directed to the UMW Registrar’s Office.
Graduates and degree candidates need to let us know if they plan to “walk” in Commencement by submitting an online RSVP. Graduates and degree candidates can RSVP to the 128th Annual Commencement Ceremony by clicking the link below. All RSVPs for Commencement must be submitted no later than March 26, 2025.
CLICK HERE TO RSVP FOR COMMENCEMENT
Academic Regalia is required for all degree candidates and faculty participating in Commencement. A solid black cap and gown is required for all students participating in Commencement*. Limited sizes are available for purchase at the UMW Bookstore for $25.00 or students can purchases from online suppliers.
Any purchases made through UMW’s preferred provider, Oak Hall, before March 26, 2025 will be delivered directly to the UMW Bookstore for in-person pick-up the week prior to Commencement. Students also have the option to purchase or wear their own solid black cap and gown, however a chance of their cap and gown not being uniform to the ones purchased though Oak Hall is high.
Students must provide photo ID at the UMW Bookstore when picking up regalia ordered through Oak Hall.
Make sure you have your black cap & gown!
*Students and faculty may wear tribal regalia instead of traditional academic regalia. Please read below for more information.
Stoles & Cords
The University of Montana Western strives to recognize and celebrate our candidates’ unique academic and co-curricular accomplishments. These include but are not limited to induction into university-recognized honor societies, involvement in academic organizations and/or association with university-recognized groups or programs.
In addition to the traditional cap and gown regalia worn at this event, we invite our degree candidates to wear stoles and cords at commencement to symbolize these associations in accordance with accepted university standards regarding appropriate content, as outlined below. The university-recognized student/organization/group or the student is responsible for the cost of any additional regalia. The student is responsible for obtaining the regalia if he or she wishes to wear it during the commencement ceremony. Associate or Bachelor degree candidates and graduates with qualifying institutional cumulative GPAs have the option to purchase honor cords from the UMW Bookstore. Please refer to the Academic Catalog for Institutional GPA Honors requirements. For students completing their degrees in Spring 2025, their GPA honors are based off their Fall 2024 GPA.
Tribal Regalia
Students and faculty are welcome to wear tribal regalia instead of traditional academic regalia at The University of Montana Western’s commencement ceremony. Keep in mind that everyone participating in commencement must adhere to accepted university standards regarding appropriate content, as outlined below.
For more information about Montana State Law 2-1-315 please visit the Montana Code Annotated 2023 web page.
Decorated Mortarboards
Commencement is a celebration! We invite our degree candidates to decorate the top of their mortarboard (graduation cap), but ask that they respect the dignity of this occasion and be considerate of accepted university standards regarding appropriate content, as outlined below.
University staff reserve the right to confiscate any and all inappropriate materials. Examples of inappropriate content include intimidating or profane language and/or visual materials that insinuate drugs, alcohol, or discrimination or harassment of a protected class. Students unwilling to comply with these guidelines may not participate in the Commencement ceremony.
This year’s ceremony will take place in Bulldog Stadium and tickets are not required for guests to attend. Gates to the Bulldog Stadium will open at 9:00am. Seating in bleachers and on the berms for guests will be first come, first served. We cannot reserve seating or parking for guests or attendees. All guests need to enter Bulldog Stadium through the gates at the main ticket booth entrance. Graduates and degree candidates will enter through the south gates for check-in.
A live stream of the Commencement Ceremony will be available for on-campus viewing in the Beier Auditorium. Doors will open at 9:00am and seating is first come, first served. Guests will need to vacate Beier Auditorium once the ceremony ends.
Pre-ceremony Check-in: (updated February 26, 2025)
Graduates and degree candidates will need to arrive fully dressed and ready to walk in Commencement by 9:00am at South Entrance of Bulldog Stadium. They will check-in and get their name card, then line up under the bleachers according to their degree level and/or major. Ushers at the check-in table will provide specific instructions. The processional will begin at 9:50am with usher escorting the processional to their seats on the turf of Bulldog Stadium. Please limit personal items to what you can comfortably carry during the processional, ceremony, and recessional. Personal items left at the check-in and line-up will not be monitored during the ceremony.
Post-ceremony Reception:
Upon the closing of the ceremony, all graduates and degree candidates will be ushered to the location of the reception where they can meet their guests, friends, and members of faculty after the ceremony. Light refreshments will be served.
If guests have concerns about accessibility, please contact Becky Stuart, Director of Campus Events & Conference Services at 406-683-7566 or [email protected] by May 1, 2025.
Parking will be available throughout campus as well as on the public streets surrounding campus. Please view this campus map to become familiar with campus before arriving.
The livestream for the University of Montana Western’s 128th Annual Commencement Ceremony will be available for viewing the day of the ceremony starting at 10:00am. A link will be posted here the week prior to the ceremony.
The digital program for the University of Montana Western’s 128th Annual Commencement Ceremony will be available for viewing the day of the ceremony. A link will be posted here the week prior to the ceremony.
Professional photography is provided by GradImages. Students participating in Commencement will receive proof of their photos to the email address they list on their name/degree card prior to the ceremony. Purchase of professional photos are optional.
Guests are asked to remain seated during the entire ceremony, and are not permitted to approach the stage or walkway for photos.
Students who complete their degree at the end of the Spring term will have their diploma(s) mailed to the diploma mailing address listed on their Application for Graduation. Generally, diplomas are mailed approximately twelve (12) weeks after Commencement. Students can email updated diploma mailing addresses to [email protected].
Follow these links to order your Alumni License Plate and Legacy Brick now!
If you have a hold on your account, you will be allowed to participate in the commencement ceremony. However, you will not receive your diploma or transcript until all holds have been lifted. Please check your DAWGS account to see if you have any holds.
Please contact [email protected] with questions.
Updated February 26, 2025
