Commencement 2022
Heidelberg University will celebrate Commencement 2022 by returning to a traditional ceremony on Sunday, May 15, 2022. The ceremony will take place outdoors in Hoernemann Stadium, weather permitting. Rain site will be Seiberling Gymnasium. Below you will find information that you will need to know if you are planning to participate in Commencement.
Inclement Weather
If the decision is made to move the Commencement ceremonies indoors because of inclement weather, students will receive notification via SendWordNow by 7 a.m. Commencement Day, Sunday, May 15.
Closed Captioning
Closed Captioning for those in attendance at Commencement is available here.
Watch via Zoom
If you have family or friends who can't join you in person at Commencement, invite them to watch via Zoom. There is a limit of 300 participants.
Click here for the link to join by Zoom.
Live Streaming
The Commencement ceremony will be live streamed at two locations on campus: Frost Lecture Hall, inside Bareis Hall of Science, and The University Commons.
Information for Graduating Students
Tickets for Degree Candidates
Each graduate participating in the Commencement ceremony will receive 6 tickets. Commencement tickets may be picked up in the Business Office beginning May 1. All bills must be paid in full in order to receive your Commencement tickets.
If the ceremony is held in Hoernemann Stadium, tickets will not be necessary unless you are requesting special seating. (Please see special seating instructions below.) Guests may sit in the stadium, or may bring their own seating for the hill behind Saurwein.
In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved to Seiberling Gymnasium, and no one will be admitted to Commencement without a ticket. A decision will be made by 7:00 AM and posted on the Heidelberg website. Students will be notified via SendWordNow.
Please note: All bills must be fully paid in the Business Office by May 1 to receive your tickets.
Questions concerning Commencement should be directed to commencement-questions@heidelberg.edu
Schedule of Events
Commencement Rehearsal | Friday, May 13, 2022
10:00 AM | Seiberling Gymnasium
(Undergraduate and Graduate)
ALL UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS RECEIVING DEGREES MUST BE PRESENT AT REHEARSAL. GRADUATE STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND.
At rehearsal, the Class of ’22 will meet with Dr. Bryan Smith, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost; Dr. Courtney DeMayo-Pugno, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs and Executive Director of the Owen Center for Teaching and Learning; and Faculty Marshals Dr. Ryan Musgrave, Dr. Jena Suffel, Dr. Josh Bowman, and Dr. Sarah Lazzari; and Ashley Helmstetter, Assistant Vice President for Alumni Engagement & HYPE Career Ready®. Please be prepared to confirm the phonetic spelling of your name. You will complete a survey for the Alumni Office. The class will present its banner to President Rob Huntington. Each graduate will be assigned their position in the marching line, their seat in the correct order for receiving their degree, and will be given final instructions for the ceremony.
Baccalaureate | Saturday, May 14, 2022
4:00 PM | Gundlach Theatre
Baccalaureate will be in Gundlach Theatre for degree candidates, families, and friends with open seating. This interfaith worship service will include readings from religious texts, prayers, special music, and a sermon. The heritage between the United Church of Christ and Heidelberg University is also celebrated in this gathering. Students from Religious Life will lead the service. No ticket is required.
Attire: No academic regalia for graduates unless a part of the Platform Party.
Line-Up Commencement, Line Up | Sunday, May 15, 2022
9:15 AM | Various Locations
All degree candidates will line up promptly at 9:15 AM.
- Master’s degree candidates will line up in front of the Bryenton Center for Honors
- Bachelor’s degree candidates will line up on the first floor of University Hall
- Faculty members will line up in front of Pfleiderer Hall
Each degree candidate will take the position that was assigned to them at rehearsal. In case of inclement weather, the assembly for students will be held in the Saurwein Health & Wellness Center.
Commencement Procession
9:50 AM | Greenfield Street
Rain site: Seiberling Gymnasium
The procession of degree candidates, faculty, Trustees, and the Platform Party begins on Greenfield Street, turns onto Rebecca Street, continues around the pond and into Hoernemann Stadium.
Commencement Ceremony
10:00 AM | Hoernemann Stadium
Stadium gates will open at 8:30 AM.
Rain site: Seiberling Gymnasium
If in Seiberling, special seating ticket holders will be admitted at 9:15 AM. Doors will open for general admission at 9:30 AM, rain or shine. Special seating will be held until 9:45 AM. (See “Special Seating Requests” for more information.)
Commencement Recessional
Following the ceremony, the faculty will process to the outer area of Hoernemann Stadium and form two lines facing each other. The graduates will recess through the faculty lines and continue off the field.
Attire and Academic Regalia
Attire is cap, gown and hood. Academic gowns are intended to be worn full length and should not be shortened by hemming, basting, etc. Approved medals and cords may be worn.
General Information for Families & Guests
Parking
Guests are directed to Parking Lots B, C, E, F, G, and J (see Campus Map). Golf carts will be available for those who need assistance. Members of Heidelberg’s Security staff and student ambassadors will be on hand to assist those in a wheelchair or those with health concerns.
Bookstore Hours
Regular Hours
- Monday-Friday | 9:00 AM-4:00 PM
Special hours for Commencement Day
- Friday, May 13 | 9:00 AM-4:00 PM
- Saturday, May 14 | 12:00 PM-3:30 PM
- Sunday, May 15 | 8:00 AM-10:00 AM and 12:00 PM-2:00 PM
Graduation Announcements, Diploma Frames and Class Rings
Announcements, diploma frames and class rings are available to order through Herff-Jones. Please visit the Heidelberg page on the Herff-Jones website at https://colleges.herffjones.com/college/heidelberg/ to order.
Photography
Professional photographer Keith Hodkinson will be present to take a picture at the moment the diploma is presented to each graduate. Order forms are located online.
Security
As a security precaution, the following items are prohibited: alcoholic beverages, coolers, backpacks, large handbags, metal folding seat cushions, noise making devices, mace or similar substances, signs, sticks, poles, and weapons of any kind. Guests are subject to visual inspection of person, bags, and clothing capable of concealing prohibited items.
Questions?
Questions regarding graduation requirements should be directed to your academic advisor. All bills must be paid in full to the Business Office by May 1, 2022, in order to participate in Commencement. If you have billing questions, please contact Barb Gabel at 419-449-2183 or bgabel@heidelberg.edu. If you have general questions about this year’s Commencement, please email commencement-questions@heidelberg.edu