Commencement Ceremonies

Latin Honors are awarded to eligible students earning their first baccalaureate degree. To be considered for Latin Honors students must complete a minimum of 64 credits in residence at St. Catherine University. Latin Honors are awarded upon completion of all graduation requirements with the following institutional grade point average (resident courses only, no transfer courses included):

• For graduation cum laude, a GPA of 3.667
• For graduation magna cum laude, a GPA of 3.8
• For graduation summa cum laude, a GPA of 3.9

The honors awarded are noted on your transcript and in the program at Commencement.

Predicted eligibility for Latin Honors is determined approximately six weeks prior to Commencement; actual eligibility is based on your final St. Catherine University GPA.

Students with a remaining balance should contact Student Accounts (studentaccounts@stkate.edu or 651.690.6503) to make payment arrangements.

Students with a remaining balance on their account after Commencement will have their diplomas and official transcripts held until payment in full is submitted.

Students who borrowed a Perkins or Nursing Loan, will need to complete the online exit interview prior to graduation. Student borrowers will receive an email notification from our loan servicer, Heartland ECSI, with instructions for completing the exit interview. The exit interview process should take about 15-20 minutes. Questions about the interview can be directed to Student Accounts (studentaccounts@stkate.edu or 651.690.6503). Technical questions or problems can be directed to Heartland ECSI at 1.888.549.3274. 

Student borrowers will have a hold on their diplomas and official transcripts until the required exit interview has been completed.

If you borrowed other types of student loans, you need to complete an exit counseling session. Expect notification of times from the Financial Aid Office

If your student account is in good standing your diploma will be mailed to your permanent address approximately six weeks after Commencement.

Please ensure that the registrar’s office has your correct address on file.

Diploma frames are available for purchase through the St. Catherine University bookstore—view examples online or in the bookstore.

St. Catherine University bookstore

The O’Shaughnessy continues to take safety precautions and is following all Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and St. Catherine University guidelines, as we work to keep our doors open this spring.

The O’Shaughnessy’s primary concern is the safety and well-being of all its audiences, artists, and staff and every individual who walks through the doors. This is our highest priority.

Please review the MDH’s Recommendations  and St. Catherine University’s requirements for Attendees for events-before, during and after the performance.

These guidelines are the minimum requirements. Individual presentations may add additional requirements. Below are attendees’ requirements and recommendations:

Mask Requirements: Beginning December 1, 2022: As of December 1, masks are optional for all events at the O’Shaughnessy. We reserve the right to adjust this policy as the circumstances of COVID-19 evolve.

Vaccination Policy: The O’Shaughnessy encourages but does not require all guests be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Being fully vaccinated means that it has been at least 14 days since your last dose. For more information about Covid-19 Vaccination click here.

The O’Shaughnessy will no longer be requiring proof of vaccination at the entrance to the lobby. 

Professional photographers will be at each Commencement ceremony to take photos of graduates on stage. These photos will be made available to graduates for purchase a few weeks after the ceremony.

We encourage guests to park on campus. All lots are open to guests on May 21 and May 22.  Permits are not required. 

Accessible parking spaces are located in front of Our Lady of Victory Chapel and next to The O’Shaughnessy.

Campus Map

The St. Catherine University Bookstore is located on the second floor of Coeur de Catherine. The Bookstore will be open during Commencement: 

Saturday, May 21:  9:00am-3:00pm

Sunday, May 22: 9:00am-2:00pm

Bookstore Online

The Pulse Cafe and the Dining Hall are both located on the first floor of Coeur de Catherine and offer a wide range of options. Enjoy Seattle's Best coffee, grab and go bakery items, sandwiches, and salads, plus grill favorites and a large selection of beverages. The Pulse Cafe offers made to order stone baked pizza and pastas 

Commencement hours:

Saturday, May 21:  8:00am-4:30pm

Sunday, May 22: 8:00am-3:30pm

GRADUATES MAY REQUEST EXTRA TICKETS AT THE TIME OF BOOKING THEIR ORIGINAL TICKET ALLOCATIONS, AND THERE WILL BE A FIELD IN THE ONLINE TICKETING SYSTEM TO CAPTURE THESE REQUESTS. NO ONE GRADUATE MAY REQUEST MORE THAN 10 TOTAL TICKETS. EXTRA TICKETS ARE DISTRIBUTED ON A FIRST REQUESTED, FIRST BOOKED BASIS BEGINNING THE WEEK OF APRIL 24. RECIPIENTS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF ADDITIONAL TICKETS VIA THEIR ST. KATE'S EMAIL.

Yes, in order to be Fire Code compliant, everyone in the auditorium must have their own seat, even babies.

Graduates can request extra tickets via the ticket request form. Extra tickets are distributed through a lottery system. Recipients will be notified via their St. Kate’s email.

YOU WILL RECEIVE AN EMAIL WITH YOUR ELECTRONIC MOBILE TICKETS ON MAY 9TH. IF YOU BOOK TICKETS AFTER MAY 8 YOU WILL RECEIVE ELECTRONIC TICKETS AT THE TIME OF BOOKING. PHYSICAL TICKETS MAY BE PRINTED BY REQUEST AT THE O'SHAUGHNESSY TICKET OFFICE BEGINNING MAY 9.

We can reprint them. Before the Commencement date, email oshaughnessy@stkate.edu and we will have them reprinted. The day of Commencement, contact The O'Shaughnessy at (651) 690-6700.

IRENE'S EDIT: CONTACT THE TICKET OFFICE AT OSHAUGHNESSY@STKATE.EDU OR 651.690.6700 AND WE CAN RE-ISSUE TICKETS AT ANY TIME.

Give your personal items to your guests beforehand if possible. If not possible, there will be unsecured storage boxes at the ceremony line-up that you can leave your belongings at your own risk. Please note, the University is not responsible for lost or stolen items.

PLEASE EMAIL COMMENCEMENT@STKATE.EDU WITH THE PHONETIC SPELLING OF YOUR NAME. EVEN BETTER, ATTEND GRADFEST TO TALK DIRECTLY WITH THE ANNOUNCER WHO WILL BE AT YOUR CEREMONY.

Associate and Bachelor degree candidates start the ceremony with the tassel on their right side. At the end of the ceremony, they will turn the tassel to their left side. Masters and Doctoral degree candidates start and keep the tassel on the left side.

Master degree candidates will process into the Auditorium with their hoods over their arms and will hood themselves as part of the Commencement ceremony. This will be demonstrated at line up.

Doctoral degree candidates will process into the Auditorium with their hoods over their arms and will be hooded on stage as part of the Commencement ceremony. This will be demonstrated at line up.

• Watch the Rehearsal video (playing at GradFest) and emailed to graduates in May
• Wear comfortable shoes – you will be doing a lot of walking and standing.
• Give your tickets to your guests ahead of time. You don’t need them – they do.
• Be on time. Try to avoid feeling rushed, so you can enjoy the day.

Balfour offers a full line of customized products for graduation. Special order custom, high-quality, embossed invitations and announcements through the Balfour website.

Note: Some people do not know that announcements are not invitations. Omitting the place and time of the ceremony from your announcements should help alleviate this confusion.

Balfour

The official St. Catherine University ring can also be purchased through Balfour.

Balfour

Support Student Scholarships

Celebrate your graduation by making a contribution to the Senior Class Gift! Leave a legacy by making a gift (no gift is too small) to support student scholarships for those Katies who will follow you.

Contribute to your class gift