5/6/26

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State University will recognize approximately 1,732 graduates during its spring 2026 commencement ceremonies on Friday and Saturday, May 15-16.

Graduates who have chosen to participate in person will be honored in two ceremonies on Friday and one ceremony on Saturday at Gross Memorial Coliseum (GMC).

The ceremonies will begin on Friday for undergraduate and graduate candidates in the Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship and the Werth College of Science, Technology, and Mathematics at 8:30 a.m. CDT, followed by the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences at 11 a.m. CDT.

Saturday’s ceremony includes the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences and the College of Education at 10 a.m. CDT.

Doors to Gross Memorial Coliseum and the adjoining Cunningham Hall will open at 7:45 a.m. on Friday and 9:15 a.m. on Saturday.  Graduates and guests enter at Gate 2 or Gate 3.  Graduates will check in at designated tables for undergraduate and graduate students.

Students are asked to wear their regalia into GMC.  For late regalia pick up after May 1, students must contact Victor E. Apparel & Gift Co. in the Memorial Union.

Seating on the main floor of Gross Memorial Coliseum is reserved for graduates and faculty, with guest seating located in the upper level.  An elevator is available through Gate 3.  Accessible seating for guests with mobility impairments and patrons using wheelchairs is available on the main floor; a commencement staff member will escort the individual and one guest to the designated seating area. Gates 2 and 3, located at the northwest and northeast corners of the building, are the most convenient drop-off points for guests with disabilities.  Accessible parking is available at Gate 4 on the west side of the building.

Closed captioning will be available on the screen in GMC during each ceremony.

Traffic in the GMC area is anticipated to increase significantly during the transition periods between the ceremonies on Friday.  Parking lots adjacent to the coliseum typically fill up quickly, but parking is available on the main campus.

Graduates, families, and friends are encouraged to share their photos and messages on Instagram and Facebook by using #tigergrad and tagging @forthaysstate

If graduates are unable to attend the on-campus ceremonies, they can tune in to the virtual celebration on Saturday, May 16, beginning at 2 p.m. for the DNP, Ed.S., and master’s students. The undergraduate virtual ceremony will follow at 4 p.m. Graduates can experience all the excitement, pride, and unforgettable moments wherever they are. 

Recordings of the virtual ceremonies will be archived on the FHSU YouTube channel, with the link available on the commencement website, “Programs and Videos” tab, the week after the semester ends.

The in-person commencement ceremonies will be broadcast live on the Tiger Media Network YouTube Channel: Tiger Media Network - YouTube. Links to the YouTube streams will be shared on the FHSU Facebook page on the day of each commencement ceremony. 

The commencement schedule, maps, directions, links to accommodations in Hays, and general information can be found at www.fhsu.edu/commencement/.