Cohort 31 and invited guests: We look forward to seeing you at our May 2023 graduation events — including the All-University Commencement, our SMU Guildhall Degree Recognition Ceremony, and our post-ceremony Reception. Thank you for your patience as SMU completed the intricate planning of graduation and its processes.

Below you will find a guide to each of SMU Guildhall's applicable graduation events.

Saturday, May 13th

8:30am | Moody Coliseum

At Commencement, candidates from all SMU schools and professional programs will be officially recognized as President Turner confers degrees.

You can find ample information about Commencement here, including event requirements and security protocols, ticket ordering, scheduling, and more.



Cohort 31 students may request up to two (2) All-University Commencement tickets for guests, plus one (1) candidate entry ticket for themselves.

Commencement tickets can be ordered here beginning April 25th at 9:30am CT.

Guests on campus without tickets can attend a ceremony "watch party" at the Dedman Center for Lifetime Sports. Out-of-town family and friends can also watch the ceremony via live stream at smu.edu/live.

Commencement Location, Security and Parking:

Moody Coliseum is located at 3009 Binkley Ave, Dallas, TX 75205.

Interactive Campus Map | Parking Map

Guests may park in any of the University's parking facilities listed here. Based on the location of Commencement, our Ceremony, and our Reception, we recommend:

Binkley Parking Center (Binkley Avenue x Ownby Drive), Moody Parking Center (Airline Road x SMU Blvd), or Airline Parking Center (Airline Road x Daniel Avenue).

Those with limited mobility attending Commencement may park on the first floor of Binkley Parking Center with a current state-issued disabled parking placard and/or license plate.

Saturday, May 13th

11:30am-12:30pm | McFarlin Auditorium

SMU Guildhall's academic degree recognition ceremony will include a formal address to the graduates, a cohort-selected student speaker, and a formal processional in which each graduate will be recognized as they individually cross the stage and take a portrait to commemorate the occasion.

Candidate and guest tickets are required for the Guildhall Ceremony & Reception.

Each graduating student is allowed one (1) for themselves + four (4) for guests.

The deadline to order tickets is May 1st. Registration is open.

Is there a way to get extra tickets?

You may submit a request, but this is not guaranteed. Once all students are registered, any unclaimed tickets will be divvied out on a first-request basis. To submit a request for extra tickets, please email medens@smu.edu.

For guests who are unable to attend, the Guildhall ceremony will be streamed on our Youtube Channel.

Location and Parking:

McFarlin Auditorium is located at 6405 Boaz Lane, Suite 101, Dallas, TX 75205. For information on available parking areas, please visit the Commencement website here.

Interactive Campus Map

Saturday, May 13th

12:30-2pm | Miller Ballroom/Indoor Performance Center

Immediately following our ceremony, you are invited to a casual reception with light bites at the Miller Ballroom. Celebrate, take photos, and visit with family, friends, and cohortmates in this social space.

No additional tickets are required for entry other than your ceremony tickets.

Location:

The Miller Ballroom is located within Miller Event Center/Indoor Performance Center at 3009 Binkley Ave, Dallas, TX 75205. It is within walking distance from McFarlin Auditorium, and we recommend walking straight over from our ceremony.

Interactive Campus Map

Regalia Orders

The deadline to order regalia is Wednesday, April 12.

Students must order and wear regalia to participate in Commencement and Diploma ceremonies. Regalia includes a graduate cap, gown, and Master's hood (if applicable). You will also receive a specialization-specific stole directly from SMU Guildhall to use at the Guildhall ceremony.

Please note that decorated mortarboards and other adornments may not be worn during All-University Commencement.

Regalia Order Details

When ordering from Herff Jones, select 'Guild Hall' as your school. From there, Master's students should select 'Master' as their degree type; Certificate students should select 'Bachelor'. (Note 'bachelor' doesn't mean anything beyond this order.)

Students are responsible for knowing their degree type and discipline color when placing their orders. Please review the Inventory of Academic Programs to determine your degree type and discipline color:

Receiving Your Regalia

Regalia will be shipped to your address directly from Herff Jones.

Enter your current shipping address on the online order form.

Please have your gown/hood steamed prior to graduation if it is wrinkled!

We recommend Swiss the Greener Cleaners, which is a few doors down from the bookstore on Mockingbird Lane. They typically offer a discount to our students.

Returning Regalia

All candidates may keep their cap and tassel.

The rest of your order must be returned by you to Herff Jones. Instructions and a pre-paid return label are included in your regalia package. Students who do not return their regalia will have a hold put on their SMU account.

If you wish to purchase your regalia (including a hood should you want to keep one), please contact the SMU Bookstore at 214-768-2435 to acquire a custom regalia order form and retail rates. Please note custom regalia takes up to 8 weeks to arrive.

Portrait & Video Delivery

Your professional processional portrait will be delivered to your SMU email address. These are provided free of charge. SMU photo delivery can take up to four weeks.

Our live-streamed SMU Guildhall ceremony video will be accessible during and immediately after the ceremony and will remain on our YouTube channel for you to watch and share after the event.

For questions or more information, contact:

Mallory Trumpfheller | medens@smu.edu

Copyright © 2023 Southern Methodist University. All Rights Reserved.

SMU Guildhall | 3100 McFarlin Blvd., Suite 306, Dallas, Texas, 75205 | 214-768-5139