We are excited to celebrate your significant accomplishment at 2 p.m. EST on April 30, 2022 in-person at Calvin's Van Noord Arena. Below, you will find specific information for graduates and for guests & families of graduates, venue-specific details, and answers to frequently asked questions.

Announcements

Beginning in January, graduates will receive regular email communications that highlight the steps graduates will need to take in order to be ready to graduate. Initial info about the Commencement ceremony is below; further details will be available on this website on January 20.

Video

Watch live April 30, 2022 at 2 p.m. EST

Graduates

Ordering tickets
Graduates will receive more information over the coming weeks about how to order tickets for Commencement. Each graduate will receive four general admission tickets for their guests. Additional tickets for overflow venues may also be available. The deadline for ticket orders is TBA.

Arrival time, processional instructions
In short, graduates will gather in the Hoogenboom Health and Recreation Center at least 30 minutes prior to the start of your ceremony.

Cap and Gown Pick Up
Details on cap and gown orders and pickup will be communicated to graduates in the coming weeks and will be included in the “Graduate Details” section of the FAQ on the Commencement site.

Celebrate the Moment
We are creating items that you can download and use to celebrate by printing at home or at a local print shop. Everything from banners to yard signs to announcement cards, Zoom backgrounds, and Facebook frames will be available here by early March. We’re also creating a few custom logos to honor your class, and you’ll be able to add one of these special edition logos to various items available through the online campus store. Check back in early March to view and customize merchandise for your grad. Please also use #calvingrad2022 on social media.

View FAQs
Have questions about the ceremony, tickets, the venue, lodging, etc.? We are adding information in the Frequently Asked Questions section of the Commencement site over the next few weeks. If you don’t see your question answered there, send it to commencement@calvin.edu and we’ll try to get you an answer in short order.

Student Loan Exit Counseling
Complete any student loan exit counseling at https://studentaid.gov/exit-counseling/. You can find your loan balance and loan servicer at https://studentaid.gov/h/manage-loans. Contact finaid@calvin.edu with questions.

Take Alumni Association Grad Survey
A link will be sent to graduates in April with a short grad survey to verify post-grad contact information. You will need to complete this survey before picking up your cap and gown.

Calvin IT Accounts
Please note that your Calvin accounts (Office 365, Google Apps, Moodle, Eduroam wireless access, printing access, network storage, and other Calvin services) will close approximately two months after your last academic period. Review recommended steps for graduates to take before your accounts close.

Guests & Families

Gifts
We’ll be creating a few custom logos to honor the Class of 2022. You'll be able to add one of these special edition logos to various items available through the online campus store. Check back in mid-March for a link to these logos.

Guests of grads can also order fresh flowers online which will be available for pickup on Calvin's campus the day of Commencement.

Celebrate Your Grad
We’re creating items that you can download and use to celebrate your grad by printing at home or at a local print shop. By early March, you'll have access to everything from banners to yard signs to announcement cards, Zoom backgrounds, and Facebook frames.

Lodging
Guests can check availability at Calvin’s Prince Conference Center (located on campus). There are many additional hotel options near Calvin University. Please note that Calvin is approximately a 10-15 minute drive from Gerald R. Ford International Airport. Check ExperienceGR for hotel options.

View FAQs
Have questions about the ceremony, tickets, the venue, lodging, etc.? We are working on answering many of your questions in the Frequently Asked Questions section of the Commencement site. If you don’t see your question there, send it to commencement@calvin.edu and we’ll try to get you an answer in short order.

Venue

Parking
The Van Noord Arena is centrally located on campus, and parking is available throughout campus within a short walking distance.There will be reserved parking adjacent to the venue for those who require it.

Seating
A Commencement Seating Map will be published here by mid-April to help you better understand the setup for the event. Graduates can request accessible seating for their guests when they order their tickets.

Health and Safety Protocols
We will continue to follow the guidance of local and state health officials related to events like this. At this time, masks will be required of all guests joining in-person for the ceremony. Check back closer to the ceremony date for updates.

View FAQs
Have questions about the venue? We are working to answer many of your questions in the Frequently Asked Questions section of the Commencement site. If you don’t see your question answered there, send it to commencement@calvin.edu and we’ll try to get you an answer in short order.

Departmental Events

As Commencement Week events are finalized, they will be added to the master schedule which is accessible from the navigation bar of the Commencement website.

 

Frequently asked questions

  • How many guests can each graduate invite? 
    Each graduate will receive four "guest tickets" for the ceremony. Additional tickets for overflow venues may also be available.
     
  • How does one order tickets? 
    Graduates are responsible for ordering tickets for their guests. More information will be provided to graduates in the coming weeks.
     
  • How can a graduate find additional tickets for more than four guests or give away tickets they don’t need? 
    Graduates can network with classmates to find friends who have tickets to share or who need tickets. Please note that it is illegal to sell tickets above the purchase price (which is $0). Calvin University will not be re-distributing tickets. 
     
  • What will seating look like? 
    Seating will be general admission. A seating map will be available here in April to give guests and graduates an idea for how the venue will be setup for Commencement.
  • Will there be accessible seating available? 
    Yes, Van Noord Arena has accessible seating available for those who require it. Graduates will have an opportunity to request accessible seating for their guests when they order tickets. 
  • How long will the ceremony be? 
    The ceremony will last approximately 90 minutes. 
     
  • When will doors open? 
    Doors will open one hour prior to the start of the ceremony, so at 1 p.m. EST.  
     
  • Will a professional photographer be capturing photos at the event? 
    Yes. A photographer will be at the event and photos will be available for purchase.
  • Will there be a post-Commencement gathering on campus? 
    The graduate recessional will lead graduates outside the venue. Families and friend groups can make arrangements to connect outside the venue for photos, and to meet with faculty and staff on the Commons Lawn.
  • What if I cannot join in-person for the ceremony in April?
    For those graduates and/or their guests who are not able to attend Commencement, we will be streaming the event live for the Class of 2022 on the Commencement website, and the video recording will also be available online after the event.
  • I am participating in the Commencement ceremony this April. Why am I not receiving email communications about graduation? 
    April 2022 graduates: Communication will be sent to seniors who have applied to graduate. Please apply for your degree. If you think that you have already done this, please contact successcenter@calvin.edu. 
     
    January 2022 graduates: If you are not receiving Commencement messages, email alumni@calvin.edu to verify your preferred email address.
  • How many guests can each graduate invite? 
    We anticipate that each graduate will be able to secure four general admission "guest tickets" for the ceremony. Additional seating may also be available on campus in an overflow venue. More information will be shared here in the coming weeks. 
     
  • How do I order tickets? 
    Graduates are responsible for ordering tickets for their guests. More information will be provided to graduates via email in the coming weeks. 
     
  • How can I find additional tickets for more than four guests or give away tickets I don't need? 
    Graduates can network with classmates to find friends who have tickets to share or who need tickets. Please note that it is illegal to sell tickets above the purchase price (which is $0). Calvin University will not be re-distributing tickets. 
     
  • How do I order my cap and gown?  
    In the coming weeks, graduates will receive emails from commencement@calvin.edu with a link to order their caps and gowns.  

  • Where do I pick up my cap and gown? 
    On-campus, the specific location is TBD.
     
  • How can I share pronunciation of my name with name readers? 
    Information on how to do this will be shared via email with graduates a couple of weeks prior to the ceremony.  
  • What health and safety protocols are being taken for the event? 
    We will be following state and local health department guidelines for large events. At this time, that means masks will be required in all indoor spaces on campus, including in Van Noord Arena during the ceremony. Stay tuned for any changes as we draw closer to the event date. 
     
  • What will seating look like? 
    Seating will be general admission. A seating map will be available here in April to give graduates and their guests an idea of how the venue will be setup for Commencement.
  • Will there be accessible seating available? 
    Yes, Van Noord Arena has accessible seating available for those who require it. Graduates will have an opportunity to request accessible seating for their guests when they order tickets. 
     
  • Will food or beverages be available for sale at the event? 
    No. 
     
  • Can I bring my own food or beverages into the arena? 
    Bringing food or beverage inside the arena is not permitted. 
     
  • Will there be parking nearby? 
    There is plenty of parking within walking distance of the arena, including limited parking available directly adjacent to the venue. Please leave plenty of time to walk across campus to the venue. 
     
  • Will there be a post-Commencement gathering on campus? 
    The graduate recessional will lead graduates outside the venue. Families and friend groups can make arrangements to connect outside the venue for photos, and to meet with faculty and staff on the Commons Lawn.
  • If I live outside of west Michigan, what are my lodging options? 
    Guests can check availability at Calvin’s  Prince Conference Center (located on campus). There are many options near Calvin University. Please note that Calvin is approximately a 15-minute drive from Gerald Ford International Airport.
     
  • Will seniors who are currently living on campus have an option of staying in their residence through Commencement weekend? 
    Yes, they will have the option of staying (at no additional charge for the housing). Seniors staying through Commencement will have until 10 a.m. on Monday, May 2 to check-out of their room or apartment.
  • When will smaller departmental events be scheduled for the Class of 2022 (such as pinning, hooding, commissioning-type of ceremonies)?
    We will share information with students as these events are finalized. See the schedule tab on the Commencement website for up-to-date information on all events.

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