Commencement to be held weekend following final exams starting in 2024

New timing aligns with peer institutions, allows earlier transition to post-graduate plans

Marquette University congratulates the Class of 2023 on their recent Commencement exercises, and the university already looks forward to celebrating the Class of 2024 next May!

Following discussions over the past academic year with a wide range of university governance bodies and representative groups on campus, Marquette will move Commencement Weekend activities one week earlier beginning in 2024. Going forward, Commencement Weekend will be held the second weekend in May, immediately following exams.

At present, there are no planned changes to the academic calendar, including grading deadlines.

The 2024 undergraduate and graduate Commencement ceremonies will take place at Fiserv Forum on either Saturday, May 11, or Sunday, May 12. The final date will not be known until early-2024 due to the Milwaukee Bucks’ schedule. Given this, the university is finalizing the schedule of 2024 Commencement-related activities and the full schedule will be released in early-2024.

In keeping with tradition, the School of Dentistry, Law School and College of Health Sciences’ professional programs will hold separate ceremonies and will not be part of the Fiserv Forum ceremonies; details will be announced later. There will be no other college-specific ceremonies.

Marquette University Student Government will continue to plan and fund any farewell events for the undergraduate graduating class.

“Shifting the undergraduate and Graduate School Commencement date in this way brings Marquette into alignment with other local universities and many schools within the Jesuit network that do not have a week between the end of finals and Commencement,” Provost Kimo Ah Yun said. “With Commencement occurring immediately after exams, graduating students are able to start their post-graduation plans faster, whether that’s beginning full-time employment, volunteer service or other post-degree plans.”

The following representative groups were consulted to secure feedback on this decision: associate deans, Division of Student Affairs, Graduate Student Organization, Marquette University Student Government, Office of the Registrar, University Academic Senate, University Board of Undergraduate Studies and University Board of Graduate Studies.

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