The Florida Commencement Ceremony is quickly approaching! In January and again in February, you should have received a letter and email with the information below regarding the Commencement events and expectations for attendance.
Commencement events will take place over two days. We look forward to your participation on both days:
Baccalaureate Mass | Marion Bowman Athletic Center
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
The Baccalaureate Mass will be held at the Marion Bowman Activities Center. Students should be in the Breezeway in the Marion Bowman Activities Center for line-up by 3:45 p.m., wearing your cap and gown. The doors to the Marion Bowman Activities Center will open at 3:00 p.m. for guest seating. There is no limit on the number of guests that can attend the Baccalaureate Mass. Mass will begin at 4:00 p.m. Registration for Friday, April 26 Baccalaureate Mass is strongly encouraged. Please visit https://your.saintleo.edu/stars to register and view additional details.
Saint Leo Under the Stars | University Campus
5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. (or immediately following Mass)
The Saint Leo Under the Stars reception is to celebrate graduates and their families. The reception will be held following Mass, or at 5:30 p.m. in the Student Activities Building Lawn. Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be served. An evening of games, music, and connecting with fellow grads will finish with a fireworks display at 8:15 p.m. Registration for Friday, April 26 Saint Leo Under the Stars is strongly encouraged. Please visit https://your.saintleo.edu/stars to register and view additional details.
Commencement | Florida State Fairgrounds, Tampa, Florida
Click Here for Directions
Commencement exercises will be held in the on Saturday, April 27, 2019 at the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall in Tampa [ click here for directions ]. The Florida State Fairgrounds is located at 4800 US Highway 301 North, Tampa FL 33610. Venue information is accessible at http://www.floridastatefair.com/. Your ceremony will be dependent on your program and location. Please see the schedule below:
Commencement Morning Ceremony, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m
► University Campus Undergraduate Students (Bachelor and Associate) students
► Tapia College of Business Graduate-level students
► Doors will open at 7:30 a.m., Graduates check-in by 8:30 a.m.
Commencement Afternoon Ceremony, 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
► Worldwide Online & Education Center (Bachelor & Associate) Students
► College of Arts and Sciences Graduate-level Students
► College of Education and Social Services Graduate-level Students
► Doors will open at 12:30 p.m., Graduates check-in by 1:30 p.m.
Visit www.saintleo.edu/florida-commencement for a breakdown of graduate-level degree programs by ceremony.
For both ceremonies, guests should be in their seats 15 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony.
Please make post commencement plans in accordance with the published ceremony schedule. Each ceremony will be approximately 2 hours. Graduates and guests should remain seated through the conclusion of the ceremony and recessional. We want to give all graduating students and their families the respect and honor deserved.
Click Here for Directions
The Florida State Fairgrounds is located at 4800 U.S. Highway 301 North in Tampa.
***Please take proper precautions for Tampa traffic***
Master of Arts Creative Writing
Master of Arts in Theology
Master of Science in Psychology
Master of Accounting
Master of Business Administration
Master of Science in Cybersecurity
Doctor of Business Administration in Management (DBA)
Master of Education
Master of Science in Criminal Justice
Master of Science in Emergency and Disaster Management and Critical Incident Management
Master of Science in Human Services Administration
Master of Science in Instructional Design
Master of Social Work
Education Specialist: Educational Leadership Specialization
A detailed schedule of when and where to report will be sent later. Guests may arrive one hour prior to the start of each ceremony and should be seated within 15 minutes of the ceremony start time.
Guest tickets are NOT required. Seating will not be assigned. Seating is first-come, first-serve basis.
Baby carriers and strollers are permitted in the Expo Hall. Please note that this is bleacher seating so the stroller will be left unattended. Do not leave valuables with the stroller unattended.
Parking is complimentary for graduates AND guest vehicles.
A Herff Jones representative will be at the Campus Store on February 6 and 7, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
You may also order and pay for your academic regalia online directly from Herff Jones at www.herffjones.com/college/slu. To pick up your regalia at the Main University Campus, choose MAIN CAMPUS from the dropdown menu when ordering. Additional pickup information will be sent later. You can have your regalia sent directly to your home via regular or express shipping methods by selecting the HOMESHIP option. Announcements and other items are available for sale on the Herff Jones website. Announcements will be shipped to your home, even if you order a package that includes regalia. Order by February 7 for possible discounts. Contact the Campus Store at (352) 588-8344 with questions.
The deadline to order your academic regalia is March 8, 2019. Regalia is required to participate in the Commencement Ceremony.
You can pick up regalia from the Campus Bookstore starting on Monday, April 8.
You must be financially clear to participate in the Commencement event. New options are available to clear your financial account balance. To discuss these options or to make payment, contact Student Financial Services at (800) 240-7658. Student Financial Advisors are available Monday thru Friday 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. EST. For assistance in person, please visit Student Financial Services located in Saint Edward’s Hall at University Campus. Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST.
Be sure to bring your regalia. Academic regalia is required to participate in the Baccalaureate Mass and the Commencement Ceremony. The Commencement line-up and processional will require graduates to be on their feet for an extended period of time, so comfortable shoes are recommended with the academic regalia.
Graduates are permitted to carry a small purse and/or cell phone. Any belongings will need to be kept with the graduate throughout the ceremony. There is not a place to leave, store or secure personal belongings.
Do not bring large bags, laptops, selfie sticks, balloons, air horns or noisemakers. There is not a place to leave, store or secure personal belongings.
The Commencement Ceremony will take place rain or shine (hopefully it will be a sun-shinny Florida day). The Expo Hall is indoors so the ceremony will not be impacted by the weather.
For additional information about local hotels near Saint Leo visit our website: http://www.saintleo.edu/about/visitor-information/nearby-accommodations.aspx. Or to find accommodations closer to the Florida State Fair Grounds, visit: http://www.floridastatefair.com/p/other/preferred-hotels.
Friends and family who are not able to attend the ceremony in person may watch via live streaming video. A link will be posted on the day of the ceremony at www.saintleo.edu to access the live stream.
Finally, if your plans have changed and you no longer intend to attend commencement, please notify the Registrar’s Office at (352) 588-8460 or send an email to commencement@saintleo.edu. Please visit www.saintleo.edu/commencement for information and updates.
Latin honor designations will be listed in the commencement program and will be announced as the bachelor degree graduate’s name is called walking across the stage. The designation is based on the cumulative grade point average earned at the end of the prior fall term/semester. Once all grades are posted and the degree is conferred, Latin honors are calculated and will be on your diploma and transcript.
Contact your Honor Society Advisor for information on other regalia such as cords. For international sashes, contact Paige Ramsey-Hamacher at paige.ramsey-hamasher@saintleo.edu in Multicultural & International Services Office. For Veteran cords, contact Frank Hernandez at frank.hernandez@saintleo.edu.
Before April 1, 2019, you must submit your degree conferral application and associated $65 fee. To submit this required application and payment, go to eLion – Academic Profile – Application for Graduation-Degree Conferral. Payment with credit card is due at the time of submission. This application and payment are required to confer your degree, print/mail your diploma, and participate in the commencement ceremony.
Saint Leo laptops and/or tablets are due back to UTS no later than noon on, April 24 for all graduating seniors. Exceptions are in place for those students who have resided in on-campus housing for eight continuous semesters as a full-time student as well as those who have successfully completed four required Honors courses with a C+ or better. Devices that are NOT returned by this date will be billed up to $1,200 for the device (based on replacement value) and a $250 late fee. Graduates who fail to return their devices will be placed on a financial hold and will not receive their transcript or diploma without first settling the account. NOTE: If you return the device after noon on Wednesday, April 24, you will still be liable for the $250 late fee. If you have any questions, please contact Ivey Moran in UTS at Ivelise.Moran@saintleo.edu.
Leis, bouquets and Saint Leo Kukui Nut necklaces will be available for sale at commencement ceremonies. Students/guests are encouraged to pre-order and pick up before each ceremony, that way graduates can wear the leis/kukui necklaces in pictures. Graduation Day Flowers Pre-order website: http://graduationdayflowers.com/saintleo/
The University Campus and Florida State Fairgrounds are handicapped accessible. Graduates who need assistance during the ceremony should contact commencement@saintleo.edu prior to April 22 to make arrangements. Handicapped seating is available for guests; reservation is not required
