Commencement Ceremony
Western New Mexico University holds Commencement ceremonies at the end of the spring and fall semesters. Family and friends of the graduates are encouraged to attend this celebration. Students who complete their degrees in the summer and fall semesters are invited to participate in fall Commencement. Students who complete their degrees in the spring semester are invited to participate in spring Commencement. Students may also participate in spring Commencement if they have seven or fewer credit hours remaining in their degree program, and they plan to complete those credits in the summer semester. Participation in commencement does not, in itself, mean that a student is considered a WNMU graduate. In order to be awarded a degree, a student must fulfill all university requirements.
Commencement Programs
Commencement Instructions
Commencement Rehearsal
Certificate, Associate Degree, Baccalaureate Degree and Master’s Degree candidates will have the rehearsal exercise on the day of Commencement.
Fall 2024 Commencement Rehearsal will be held via Zoom and in person on Friday, December 13, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. A link will be sent to the students participating virtually, via Zoom. Those students who wish to participate in person, the rehearsal will be held at the Fine Arts Center Theater. Do not wear your cap and gown to the rehearsal.
Commencement Line-Up
This Wednesday, December 4, is your last day to register for the Fall 2024 WNMU Commencement ceremony. Don’t miss the deadline to tell us whether you want to celebrate in person or virtually—or not at all. You MUST register to participate. Please register at the link provided within the communication sent out.
Line up will begin at 1:00 p.m. for all Undergraduate Certificate, Associate, Baccalaureate candidates at the Parotti Building, and Graduate Certificates and Master Degree candidates at the McCray Building. A link will be sent to the students participating virtually.
Fall 2024 Commencement will be held hybrid (via Zoom and in person). A link will be sent to the students participating virtually, via Zoom. Those students who wish to participate in person, the processional into the Fine Arts Center Theater, will begin promptly at 1:55 p.m.
- Promptness is necessary to assure proper processional order.
- A pre-printed reader card with your name will be available for line-up on the day of commencement.
- Commencement staff will help with the line-up.
Attire
- Cap, gown, and tassel will be mailed to the graduates at a distance.
- It is recommended that gowns be pressed.
- It is recommended that male candidates for the Master’s Degree wear long sleeve shirts under their gowns as the gowns have short sleeves.
- Caps should not be worn at an angle.
- Undergraduate Certificate, Associate, and Bachelor’s degree candidates will wear tassels on the right side.
- Graduate Certificate and Master candidates and faculty members will wear tassels on the left side.
- Flowers and corsages should not be worn on the gowns of the graduates during the processional or exercises. Floral gifts may be presented following the ceremony.
During the Ceremony
- All candidates should be prepared to present your name card to the Commencement Reader for naming.
- Following the conferring of the Baccalaureate Degree by the President and after returning to assigned seats, shift tassels to the left as a group on nod from the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
- Master candidates, after receiving your program cover, proceed past the center podium and turn to face the audience. You will then be hooded.
- Master’s degree candidates’ tassels remain the same, on the left side of the cap.
- There will be a recessional following the Commencement exercises. The order of march by group will be in reverse of the processional.
For your Information
- Graduates requiring ADA accommodations for the ceremony, call Accessibility Services, at (575) 538-6277 or accessibility@wnmu.edu.
- Cap, gown, and tassel can be mailed to the graduates; for details call (575) 538-6123 or online at http://www.efollett.com.
- Graduation announcements may be ordered at the WNMU Bookstore; for details call (575) 538-6123 or online at http://www.efollett.com.
- Diplomas will be mailed to the address indicated on the degree application six to eight weeks after grades are processed by the Registrar’s Office.