Commencement information for seniors and families
Caps, gowns and tassels
Order your caps and gowns now! Order deadline is March 26, 2026.
The ordering website for caps, gowns, and tassels is now open. Please visit https://herff.ly/augustanacollege to place your order. Orders received after the March 20, 2026, deadline will incur a $25 late fee. Because our gowns are custom-made for Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø graduates, it is imperative that you place your order so that the proper size can be manufactured.
The Herff-Jones website offers more than one cap and gown package. If all you want to receive is the cap, gown and tassel, go to the ¡°Cap and Gown¡± link at the top of the page and select the package with no cost to you. You are welcome to order and pay for other items from the website. Many of those items, such as diploma frames and class rings, may also be available to you through the Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Bookstore.
All caps and gowns will be delivered to Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø and distributed to you during the Class of 2026 Grad Days (April 27-28, 2026). Any additional items you choose to purchase will be sent to the address you provided on the order form.
Please contact Mary Koski at 309-794-7708 (marykoski@augustana.edu) or the Bookstore (augiebookstore@augustana.edu) at 309-794-7541 if you have questions.
Loan exit interviews
Federal direct loans: If you borrowed a federal direct loan at any point during your time at Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø, you must complete an exit interview before receiving your cap and gown. You will receive directions on how to complete exit counseling online from the Financial Aid Office. Contact Cate Strahl with any questions.
Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Institutional Loans: If you have borrowed funds through the Federal Perkins Loan Program and/or Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Institutional Loan Program you will need to complete your exit interviews online before receiving your cap and gown. Perkins and Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Institutional loan borrowers will receive information via email with instructions on completing this requirement. Email Diane McCann if you have questions.
Class of 2026 Grad Days
Mark your calendars!
Monday, April 27, 2026 or Tuesday, April 28, 2026. (You need only attend one day.)
9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Murabito Commons, 1st floor of The Lindberg Center
This is a one-stop shop for visiting several stations and completing all the administrative tasks required of graduates before they can participate in commencement. This event is required for all graduates (both seniors and SLP candidates) who are on campus on April 27 and 28. If you are unable to attend Grad Days due to being off-campus for an internship, externship, student teaching or other reasons, please check your email after Grad Days for the next steps that need to be taken.
During Grad Days, students will complete the following:
- Graduation application verification
- Name pronunciation
- Senior Survey (if not previously done)
- Loan exit interview (if not previously done)
- Pick up cap and gown
Students must have completed their loan exit interviews (if applicable) and completed the Senior Survey before picking up their cap and gown.
Other information
Announcements: Families who would like to order personalized announcements to send to friends and relatives may order them online through the Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Bookstore. Diploma frames, class rings and blank graduation announcements with the college seal are also available through the bookstore.
Commencement tickets: Vibrant Arena at the Mark has sufficient seating capacity for commencement and is handicapped accessible.
Students away from campus: Some students may be away from Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø for portions of their final year due to internships out of state, study abroad, cooperative degree programs or finishing their degree away. All students are required to apply to graduate through Arches. If you are unsure if you have applied, see the List of Candidates.
Students who are unable to attend Class of 2026 Grad Days in April may pick up their caps and gowns at the Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Bookstore. Only confirmed candidates who have cleared all pre-commencement restrictions may pick up a cap and gown. All graduates taking classes on campus spring term are required to attend Class of 2026 Grad Days.
Excuse petition: Unless formally excused by the Committee on Advanced Standing and Degrees (chaired by Liesl Fowler, registrar), all 2026 spring and summer candidates are required to attend the Commencement Convocation.
Diploma: At Commencement each participant will receive a diploma cover. Diplomas will be mailed upon certification of completion of the degree requirements. Please be certain the Office of the Registrar has your current mailing address. Note that diplomas will not be available for those with an outstanding balance in the Business Office.
Pictures: Each graduate will be photographed. For more information on ordering photos, see GradImages.com.
Livestream: The livestream can be accessed on the day of Commencement from the Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø homepage. The ceremony will also be recorded and posted to YouTube the following week.
Letter for visa applications: If you need a letter from the college so that your family may obtain visas to attend the commencement ceremony, complete this form for the Registrar¡¯s Office. Please list all of the people who will be attending and how they are related to you. There will also be a limited supply of the formal Commencement invitations available in the Scheduling Office by the end of February.
Questions
If you have questions about Commencement Weekend, please check the Commencement webpage - www.augustana.edu/commencement, or contact Mary Koski at marykoski@augustana.edu.