There are several key dates and deadlines for students who are graduating. The dates for each of these items is shared with students on the website, via the Weekly Phoenix, through emails from the Office of the University Registrar, and in the university’s mobile app.
* All information subject to change.
Florida Polytechnic University and RP Funding Center makes several accommodations for persons with disabilities attending Commencement, including:
To request ADA accommodations, email ada@floridapoly.edu or call 863-874-8484 prior to April 19. Requests received after the deadline will be processed, but the University cannot guarantee those requests can be fulfilled. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
Alumni clothing and gifts are available on the bookstore website.
Yard signs are also available with shipping through FASTSIGNS of Lakeland.
Graduates will not be permitted to participate without wearing the approved cap and gown (and hoods for Master’s students). Caps and gowns can be ordered directly from Herff Jones. The deadline for orders is March 22.
Graduates are permitted to wear cords, medallions, or sashes that have been previously approved by the Office of the University Registrar.
Bachelor’s tassels are initially worn on the right of the cap and will be moved to the left when directed to do so in the ceremony.
Master’s tassels are worn on the left of the cap as the bachelor’s degree has already been earned. Graduates are encouraged to wear professional attire under their gown.
Other approved items include:
SWE Pin – (Society of Women Engineers)
As you choose the clothing to wear, consider:
Cap decorations are permitted as long as the decorations are appropriate, inoffensive, and not so elaborate that they cause a distraction to the ceremony. Gowns may not be altered in any way. Any decorations deemed inappropriate will need to be removed prior to the start of the ceremony.
Graduates should park in either the Orange or Red parking lot and enter through Entrance 2. Graduates must check in at the Exhibit Hall West to receive their seating assignment and reader card. Graduate check-in will open at 12:30 p.m. and graduates should check in no later than 1:15 p.m. Please review the parking information for clarification.
All graduate who want to participate in the 2024 Commencement must complete the Commencement Participation form by Friday, March 1 by 5:00 p.m.
Only students graduating with a Bachelor of Science or Master of Science degree are eligible to participate in commencement.
The 2024 commencement ceremony is intended for fall 2023 graduates, spring 2024, and summer 2024 degree candidates. Students whose anticipated graduation dates are fall 2024 through summer 2025 will participate in the spring 2025 commencement ceremony.
Completion of the 2024 Commencement Participation form does not indicate approval to participate in the commencement ceremony. A confirmation email will be sent to you from graduation@floridapoly.edu to confirm your eligibility to participate and/or remind you of items that need to be completed before you are eligible to participate. Summer 2024 degree candidates will be reviewed after summer and fall 2024 priority registration week, to confirm they are registered for their remaining courses in the summer 2024 term. Failure to register for remaining courses will result in you being ineligible to participate in the spring 2024 ceremony.
If you have any questions or concerns about the 2024 Commencement Participation form, contact graduation@floridapoly.edu.
Be sure to download your new alumni digital swag for your computer, phone, and social media accounts.
After handing off the reader card, graduates will receive their diploma cover. The diploma cover is yours to take home after the ceremony. The diploma cover should be held in front of you as you pose for your photos. Diplomas will be mailed after degrees have been conferred. Additional information will be emailed after commencement.
Commencement items, including graduation announcements, class rings and diploma frames, are available through Herff Jones.
Grad Images is the official photographer for commencement. The photographers will have clear access to take photos of the graduates during the ceremony. Graduates and their families will have the opportunity to order commencement photos from Grad Images. You will receive a link to order your commencement photos when they become available. Visit Grad Images to find the photos taken at the 2024 Commencement Ceremony.
Each graduate will be given a reader card when they check in. Do not lose your reader card. The reader card must be kept with the graduate at all times as it will be given to the name reader before the graduate walks across the stage.
TBD
Share your Florida Poly pride before, during, and after the ceremony by tagging your pics #FLPolyGrad on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. All day-of updates will be communicated via Facebook and Twitter.
Florida Poly invites graduating students from the Class of 2024 to apply to be the student speaker at the May commencement ceremony.
The student commencement speaker is an honor, and all eligible students are invited to participate in the selection process.
The deadline to apply is EOB on Friday, February 23. Refer to the selection process below for guidelines.
Student must:
The speech:
Step One: Statement of Interest.
Eligible students must send an email statement of interest to Dr. Kathryn Miller by Friday, February 24 at 5 p.m. This email should include:
In subject line: Student Commencement Speaker
In message, include:
Step Two: Speech Preparation and Delivery.
Students who complete step one will be asked to draft and present a 3-minute speech to a student commencement speaker selection group consisting of staff and faculty. Each applicant will be asked to a) submit their written draft to Dr. Miller by Tuesday, March 14 at 12 noon and b) present their speech to the selection group on the evening of Tuesday, March 14. Please note, this date is purposefully the first Tuesday following Spring Break.
Step Three: Selection
The selection group will choose a student commencement speaker and all applicants
will be notified.
Guests and graduates will pass through security upon entrance and all bags will be checked. Clear bags are recommended to provide an efficient security process. Graduates should keep personal belongings brought to commencement to a minimum. Items such as purses, bags, or anything else that will not fit in your pockets should be left with your guests or should be securely locked in the trunk of your car prior to checking in. Graduates will be separated from their guests and will not have the ability to hand off or receive personal items once the ceremony has begun.
Each graduate will receive eight guest tickets. Graduates can request up to five extra tickets for a total of 13 guest tickets. To request extra tickets, please complete the 2024 Commencement Ceremony-Extra Ticket Request form to indicate the number of additional tickets you need for the ceremony. Requests will be honored on a first come first served basis while supplies last. All requests for extra tickets must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 12.
Every guest in attendance is required to have a ticket.
About a week or two before the Ceremony, students may pick up their tickets in the Office of the Registrar (IST Building, room 2052). The exact date and time will be posted here and shared with students via email.
Students must bring a photo ID when picking up their tickets. If you would like a friend to pick up your tickets for you, email graduation@floridapoly.edu with the name of the friend who will be picking up the tickets for you. That person will need to bring their photo ID for the tickets to be released.
Please be sure to distribute these tickets to your guests, along with the Guest Information Guide, prior to the ceremony. Guests will not be admitted into the arena without a physical ticket. Lap-children 2 years old and younger do not need a ticket. If your tickets are lost or damaged, please contact graduation@floridapoly.edu; however, we cannot guarantee replacements as seating will be limited.
After the ceremony, graduates will be led out of the arena and will not be permitted to re-enter the building. Graduates should plan to meet their guests outside of the arena.
All graduates have the opportunity to participate in the Senior Class Gift. For more information visit floridapoly.edu/alumni.
