2025 Winter COMMENCEMENT
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2025
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. The Hawk Shop QU Bookstore hours
2:00 p.m. Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing and Health Sciences Pinning
– The Crossing, 150 S. 48th St. (48th and Maine Sts.), Quincy, IL.
5:00 p.m. Baccalaureate Mass
– St. Francis Solanus Chapel – Francis Hall (FRH)
– Degree candidates are to wear their gowns (no caps, stoles or hoods) and sit with family. All are welcome.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2025
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Hawk Shop QU Bookstore hours
9:15 a.m. Degree Candidates, Faculty, and Cabinet line-up for Commencement Procession
– 3-Court Area (HFC)
– Full academic attire must be worn.
– Assistant Marshals, Dr. Scott Luaders and Dr. David Kirchhofer, will assist you with line up and guide you during the ceremony
10:00 a.m. Commencement – Doors open at 9:00 a.m.
– Pepsi Arena (HFC)
– No tickets are required for guests to enter Pepsi Arena
Reception immediately follows the ceremony.
Live streaming of the ceremony will be available. Link will be provided closer to the event.
COMMENCEMENT PARTICIPATION AND STUDENT FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS
● Participation in the Commencement ceremony is dependent upon clearance by the University Registrar following a review of the degree candidate’s academic record.
● Degree candidates must have completed all graduation requirements in the fall semester to participate in Winter Commencement.
● Degree candidates should have applied for graduation by October 1.
● Degree candidates who apply after the October 1 deadline will be charged a late fee of $100.
● All tuition, room, board, fees, interest, library fines, and parking tickets should be paid in full by November 14.
● Exit Loan Counseling for degree candidates with student loans should be completed by November 14.
● Diplomas will be mailed during the spring semester to each eligible graduate at the address provided on the graduation application. Diplomas are not distributed on stage.
● Commencement is a formal ceremony. Any degree candidate impaired by drugs or alcohol will not be permitted to participate and may be removed from the premises.
SERVICE LEARNING HOURS
Undergraduate degree candidates must have all Service Learning hours completed by Friday, December 5.
For questions contact Sara Phillips, Experiential Learning Specialist, at phillsa@quincy.edu.
CAPS AND GOWNS
Academic apparel order information is submitted through the Graduation Application.
All caps and gowns will be available for pick up beginning at noon on Monday, December 8, in the Registrar’s Office during business hours. Pick up times are:
Monday December 8 12:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday – Thursday December 9 – 11 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Friday December 12 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
TICKETS & HANDICAP ACCESS
No tickets are required for guests to enter Pepsi Arena.
The Pepsi Arena is handicap accessible. Look for the signs and parking attendants at the intersection of 20th and Oak Streets. The handicap entrance is on the east side of the HFC. Please contact Macee Borrowman at 217-228-3300 or m.borrowman76@quincy.edu if you have a guest in a wheelchair or who needs accommodations.
GRADUATION WITH HONORS
Graduates who maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.60 on all Quincy University courses completed for a baccalaureate degree are eligible for graduation with honors as follows:
Cum Laude 3.60 to 3.74 GPA Silver Cord
Magna Cum Laude 3.75 to 3.89 GPA Gold Cord
Summa Cum Laude 3.90 to 4.00 GPA Bonaventure Medal
These honors distinctions will be noted on the graduate’s transcript and the diploma. All graduation requirements must be completed prior to Commencement for honors to be announced at Commencement.
Refer to the online 2025-26 Academic Catalog under Graduation with Honors
HONOR CORDS AND STOLES
Honor cords are worn by those who graduate with University honors, as noted above. Cords are also worn by members of academic honor societies, the Honors Program and other approved organizations.
All undergraduates wear stoles that have the QU seal. Those who have completed degrees through Blessing-Reiman College of Nursing and Health Sciences will wear a stole with both the QU and BRCN seals. Undergraduates affiliated with a Greek organization that meets academic standards for membership may wear a stole representing a fraternity or sorority.
The stoles noted above are approved by the University and are the only ones allowed to be worn at Commencement.
PRESIDENT’S HONORS COLLEGE
The President’s Honors College promotes academic excellence through critical thinking, original research, exceptional writing, and public presentation of scholarship. Those students who have fulfilled the requirements of the Honors College will be announced at Commencement. Graduation from the Honors College will be noted on the undergraduate’s transcript.
The President’s Honors College began the Academic Year 2022-23 and grew out of the Honors Program.
Refer to the online 2025-26 Academic Catalog under President’s Honors College
GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENTS
To order announcements, LINK COMING SOON and select “Quincy University” from the list, the graduation date (only one choice) and your degree.
DIPLOMA FRAMES
Diploma frames may be ordered from the University bookstore. LINK COMING SOON.
CLASS RINGS
LINK COMING SOON to order a class ring from the University Bookstore.
GRADUATION NEWS RELEASE
The Office of Community Relations (Francis Hall, Rm. B-37) will release a list of graduates to each student’s hometown newspaper.
If you wish to opt-out of this news release OR have your graduation announcement published to another hometown/community newspaper, please contact the Office of Community Relations at communityrelations@quincy.edu.
HOTEL INFORMATION
Some area hotels extend a special rate for families attending Commencement Weekend. Please make sure to mention QU Commencement when reserving rooms.
For a full listing of area accommodation, visit the Quincy Area Convention and Visitors Bureau website at www.seequincy.com.
Questions regarding Commencement can be directed to:
Registrar’s Office, 217-228-5432
email registrar@quincy.edu
or
Academic Affairs Office, 217-228-3300,
email commencement@quincy.edu