Ceremony Information
Place cap on the head squarely. In addition to appropriate attire, women are requested to wear dark dress shoes, and men to wear white shirts and dark shoes. Please consider that feet and legs below the gown will be visible on stage.
- Associate and Baccalaureate degree candidates wear tassels on the right side of the cap.
- Candidates for Master's and Ed.S., degrees should wear the tassel on the left side of the cap
Review the how-to video that explains how to wear FHSU regalia.
Students must wear their regalia into GMC.
On the days of the events, ceremonies will be available to view LIVE on the Tiger Media Network. Please note that there may be a short delay in the video feed. The first ceremony on Friday, December 12 at 8:30 am (CT) is the Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship, College of Health and Behavioral Sciences and Werth College of Science, Technology and Matematics. The second ceremoney at 11:00 am (CT) is the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and the College of Education.
Graduates need to be lined up in the Cunningham Hall 30-minutes prior to the ceremony start time. Check-in will begin 45 minutes prior to the ceremony start time.
All graduates receive their regalia at no cost.
Whether you’re an on-campus or online graduate, you must order your regalia by completing the form at this link.
On-Campus Graduates
Your regalia will be ready for pick-up starting November 6 at Victor E. Apparel and Gift Co., located in the Memorial Union.
If you order after November 10, please allow 24 hours for processing.
Off-Campus Graduates
You have two options for getting your regalia:
1. Pick up in person
Visit Victor E. Apparel and Gift Co. in the Memorial Union by December 11, 2025, no later than 4:00 p.m. (CT).
2. Have it shipped to you
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Be sure to order early—shipping takes time!
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The last day to ship orders is December 1 to guarantee arrival before Commencement.
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Students outside the United States are responsible for international shipping costs.
Note: Regalia cannot be shipped to the following areas: Alexander, Bison, Bunker Hill, Catharine, Collyer, Dorrance, Ellis, Gorham, Hays, La Crosse, Liebenthal, Lucas, Luray, McCracken, Ogallah, Otis, Paradise, Rush Center, Russell, Schoenchen, Timken, Victoria, Waldo, or WaKeeney.
Need Help?
Check out the Regalia FAQ for answers to common questions.
You can also contact Victor E. Apparel and Gift Co. at
📞 785-628-4417 or ✉️ by email.
The ceremony will begin promptly at the designated start time. Graduates will file into Gross Memorial Coliseum (GMC) and be seated in their respective rows (listed on your name card). The President, Kansas Board of Regents representative and Provost will provide a welcome and congratulatory remarks, and then the President will confer the degrees of the graduates. When it is your turn to cross the stage, your marshal will direct you to where you line up along the ramp and when to proceed across the stage. The Reader of Names will individually recognize graduates at the ceremony. A photo will be taken as you are hooded (if applicable), with the dean, and with the president. Graduates will exit the stage and be escorted back to their seats for the remainder of the ceremony.
After the ceremony concludes, the president will dismiss the graduates who will immediately exit the building and meet up with their guests outside of GMC. Plan accordingly and prearrange a designated area to meet your guests outside of the building. Graduates will not be allowed to wait for guests inside of the building.
Candidates are required to participate in the entire ceremony. The University expects courtesy to be extended to all candidates crossing the stage. Therefore, please do not shout or applaud an individual candidate. An appropriate time will be announced for applause. Noisemakers or air horns are not allowed. The audience is asked to refrain from moving around and leaving to ensure all graduates are provided appropriate courtesy.
Coming from Highway 183 South
- Turn left at 8th Street
- go straight (west) to the FHSU campus
Coming from Highway 183 North (option 1)
- Turn right at 27th Street
- take 27th Street to Hall Street
- turn south (left)
- go to the FHSU campus
Coming from Highway 183 North (option 2)
- Take Vine St. south to 8th St.
- turn right
- go straight (west) to the FHSU campus
Coming from Interstate 70 East or West
- Turn south at US 183 Bypass (exit 157)
- go straight to the FHSU campus
Coming from the Airport
- Go west on 183 Bypass to the FHSU entrance near Gross Memorial Coliseum
More information about driving directions, including map to campus:
EMS will be available between Gates 2 and 3 during all commencement ceremonies.
Graduates will check-in at Gate 2 or Gate 3. The graduate will enter the area that says "Graduate Entrance Only" and guests will enter the door labeled guest door entrance (located at both gates). The graduate will be directed to either the Registrar’s Office (undergraduate) or the Graduate School (Master's, Ed.S. and DNP) for their name card. After receiving their name card, the graduate will be directed to line up in Cunningham Hall according to the row listed on their name card. Commencement staff will be directing students from GMC to the correct hallways in Cunningham.
Hoods
Hoods will be provided on stage by the Dean of the Graduate School, for all Doctoral, Ed.S., and Master’s Candidates. You will not receive your hood beforehand. Graduates are to keep their caps on during hooding.
Honor cords
Only graduates who qualify for academic honors are permitted to wear honors cords at the commencement ceremony. Students who qualify for honors will receive their cords with their name cards on the day of the ceremony.
Stoles
Ed.S. graduates will receive their stoles when they receive their name cards the day of the ceremony.
In person ceremonies canceled due to inclement weather will not be rescheduled. The virtual ceremonies will be released with all graduates on December 13.
Customized graduation announcements can be purchased from Jostens or generic ones from the Victor E. Apparel and Gift Co.
The graduate will be standing in the hallways until the ceremony begins, so please plan accordingly. Graduates are responsible for all personal items such as keys, cellphones, etc. Graduates will assemble inside Cunningham Hall of GMC, entering Gate 2 or 3 and lining up by major at least 30 minutes prior to the ceremony start time. Master, Education Specialist and DNP candidates will assemble outside of Rooms 143, 144, and 145. Row signs will be posted in the hallways, and University staff will be present if assistance is needed.
The name card is very important, as graduates will give it to the Reader of Names before crossing the stage to be hooded and receiving the diploma cover. Name cards can be picked up at check-in at Gates 2 and 3 in GMC on the days of the ceremony.
Please leave early to allow sufficient arrival time. Traffic can be heavy in the Gross Memorial Coliseum area for Commencement. In the event of inclement weather, parking will be restricted to the Gross Memorial Coliseum parking lot and on campus.
Shuttle bus service for those who park on campus will be provided to and from Gross Memorial Coliseum. Commencement Shuttle Stops will be at the following locations:
- Lot A2, near the College Drive entrance
- Lot D, near Malloy Hall
- Lot Q, between the fountain and the north driveway
- Lot J, near the Elm Street entrance
Access vans are available to transport passengers with disabilities who park on campus to and from Gross Memorial Coliseum Gates 2 and 3. After the event, vehicles leaving the parking lot at the north exits will be directed north. Those exiting south will be directed south.
Photographers from GradImages will take individual photos with the graduate dean and/or the college dean as each graduate crosses the stage and with the university president. Plan to pause for the photographs.
Proofs and forms for ordering will be mailed by GradImages to each candidate after Commencement. Please allow up to five business days for mailing. There is no obligation to purchase photos.
Only press and official university photographers with passes will be allowed to take photos on the lower level of the building.
After Commencement, inquiries about photos should contact GradImages Customer Service Department at (800) 261-2576, online at www.gradimages.com, or email ecc.giservice@gradimages.net.
Commencement programs will be available electronically at each ceremony through a QR code. Guests may scan the code to view, download, or print the full program.
Keepsake Printed Programs
Official printed programs are available for purchase through FHSU Printing Services. These keepsake editions will be mailed beginning December 19, 2025.
Details
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Cost: $15 (includes shipping and handling)
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Payment options:
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Credit card (online orders)
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Cash or check (in person at Printing Services)
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Order period: November 1, 2025 – January 16, 2026
Contact Information
FHSU Printing Services
Brooks Building, Room 101
600 Park Street
Hays, KS 67601
Email: printshop@fhsu.edu
Phone: 785-628-5310
Orders can be placed through the TigerLink form.
The Reader of Names will be available at a table near the check-in area. Graduates may stop by the table if they would like to provide a phonetic spelling of their name.
All graduates (including those who participated in the in-person ceremonies) who have submitted an apply for program completion form (formerly an intent to graduate) prior to October 12, will be recognized during the virtual ceremony at the designated times. Recordings of the virtual ceremonies will be archived on the FHSU YouTube channel. A link will be posted on the “Programs and Videos” page of the commencement website on the Monday following the ceremonies.