Commencement 2024
Save the date for Commencement 2024 Weekend: Thursday, May 16 – Friday, May 17, 2024.
Download Commencement 2023 Photos, Programs & Videos
Commencement News
Friday, May 19, 2023
Friday, May 19, 2023Baccalaureate Mass and Conferral of Degrees
4:30 p.m. | Duane Stadium | Tickets Required
Graduates and their guests will gather for a new tradition that will bring together Baccalaureate Mass and the conferral of bachelor’s degrees and master’s degrees. Diplomas are not handed out until Saturday’s events.
Info for Students
Graduating students should report to Martone-Mejail field at 3 p.m. for line up. All graduating students should wear their regalia. Students will process into Duane Stadium starting at 4 p.m.
Info for Guests
Duane Stadium will open for guests at 2:30 p.m. All guests should plan to be in their seats by 4 p.m. Guests are invited to sit where they wish in Duane Stadium. Tickets are required for this event. Students are responsible for getting tickets for their guests – guests do not order tickets.
During the Ceremony
The procession will begin at 4 p.m. and the Mass and ceremony will start at 4:30 p.m. Students should remain seated throughout the Mass and ceremony. The ceremony will last for approximately 90 minutes. Restrooms during the ceremony are located in the back of Duane Stadium.
President’s Reception
Immediately following Baccalaureate Mass and Conferral of Degrees | Duane Stadium
Following Baccalaureate Mass and Conferral of Degrees, all are invited to a reception at Duane Stadium. All are invited to attend, and no tickets are needed.
Saturday, May 20, 2023
Saturday, May 20, 2023School-based Degree Recognition Ceremonies
Duane Stadium | Tickets Not Required
Merrimack College will hold three school-based degree recognition ceremonies for you and your guests at Duane Stadium. These ceremonies will take place throughout the day at the following times:
- 9 a.m. – Girard School of Business & School of Science and Engineering
- 1:30 p.m. – Winston School of Education and Social Policy
- 5:30 p.m. – School of Liberal Arts & School of Nursing and Health Sciences
At these ceremonies each undergraduate student will cross the stage, have their name read and receive their diploma. Each graduate student will cross the stage and have their name read and receive their diploma.
Info for Students
Line Up Times
Graduating students should report to Lawler Arena 90 minutes prior to the start of their individual school ceremony. Please arrive at the following times: 7:30 a.m. – Girard School of Business & School of Science and Engineering; noon – Winston School of Education and Social Policy; 4 p.m. – School of Liberal Arts & School of Nursing and Health Science.
Regalia
- All graduating students should wear their regalia to Lawler Arena.
Refreshments
- Light refreshments will be available for students in Lawler Arena prior to each individual school ceremony. Dunkin Donuts will be closed on Saturday, May 20.
Check-in and Line Order
- At Lawler Arena students must check in with the staff to receive their MarchingOrder card. Please keep this card safe. You will need this to process across the stage.
- Students will be lined up in alphabetical order – graduate students before undergraduate students. Students should stay in this order to ensure they receive the appropriate diploma.
- Students will be directed by staff to line up and process from Lawler Arena to Duane Stadium. We ask that you please follow instructions from the staff on where to sit once inside Duane Stadium.
Info for Guests
Parking lots open two hours before each ceremony. Tickets are not required for this event.
During the Ceremony
Each ceremony will last for approximately 90 minutes. Restrooms during the ceremony are located in the back of Duane Stadium. Commencement will take place rain or shine.
Students should remain seated throughout Commencement. Ushers will direct students when it is time to process across the stage. Students who have completed the necessary requirements for graduating will receive their actual diploma.
Commencement FAQs
If you have Commencement questions that are not answered in our frequently asked questions below, please email commencementoffice@merrimack.edu.
- Friday, May 19: Yes, you need a ticket.
- Saturday, May 20: No, you do not need a ticket.
All guests of graduating undergraduate and graduate students need a ticket to attend the Baccalaureate Mass and Conferral of Degrees on Friday, May 19. Each student will receive six tickets.
You do not need a ticket to attend our school-based degree recognition ceremonies on Saturday, May 20.
Students should have received an email with information to reserve tickets for Friday, May 19 Baccalaureate Mass and Conferral of Degrees. All students may bring six guests and must register all their guests ahead of time.
If you have not reserved your tickets, you can access your account and reserve your tickets through MarchingOrder.
To claim tickets, you must enter an email address for each individual ticket. Tickets can be emailed to each registered guest. Upon arrival on Friday, May 19 each guest will present the QR code they received in order to enter the ceremony or can present a printed copy of their ticket.
If you need to change your guests you can do so by logging into MarchingOrder and replacing the email address with the new guest’s information. Please note, the QR code for the guest who is no longer attending will be deactivated and a new QR code will be assigned to the new guest.
The QR code is unique to each guest and only one QR code is permitted per guest. Every guest over the age of 3 must have a ticket. Children under the age of 3 do not need an individual ticket.
Unfortunately, we are unable to provide more than six tickets per graduating student for the Baccalaureate and Conferral of Degree ceremony on Friday, May 19. Guests will not require tickets for the individual school ceremonies on Saturday, May 20.
Tickets are being sent to all students and graduates electronically upon registration. Merrimack is using a third-party vendor MarchingOrder. Please check your spam folder or promotion tab for these messages.
If you have not received your tickets by the morning of the Commencement ceremony, and you have registered, you will be directed to a ticketing information table to pick up your tickets.
Children under the age of three do not need a ticket to the ceremony on Friday, May 19.
No, there is no assigned seating for guests. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
If you are in need of accessible seating please speak with the volunteers who can direct you.
Accessible seating will be available on the field and in the lower bleachers. Ushers will direct guests to the designated areas.
Please note: There will be Commencement staff members available throughout campus to assist guests with questions.
We have a limited number of wheelchairs to loan. They are located at the stadium.
Yes, all students who are eligible to graduate can attend.
The Merrimack community will gather at 4:30 p.m. in Duane Stadium with you and your guests for a new tradition that will bring together Baccalaureate Mass and the conferral of bachelor’s degrees and master’s degrees.
Baccalaureate Mass is a service in celebration of and thanksgiving for lives dedicated to learning and wisdom. The baccalaureate service derives from the medieval European custom of presenting the candidates for the degree of Bachelor (bacca) with laurels (lauri) of sermonic oration. All students and their guests, regardless of religious affiliation, are invited.
Degree conferral is your official acknowledgment as a legal graduate of Merrimack College. In order to be conferred you must have completed all academic and practical requirements and have no outstanding debts to the College. From the moment your degree has been conferred, you are an official legal graduate of the College and can use any titles associated with that award.
At the Baccalaureate Mass and Degree Conferral Ceremony, your family and friends will celebrate your achievements. Faculty, undergraduate and graduate students will participate in an academic procession, and your degree will be conferred. The ceremony will also include an undergraduate and graduate student speaker as well as celebrate the recipient of the Merrimack Medal.
Each student will be allotted six guest tickets for Friday, May 19. Information on how to claim your tickets will be released in the coming weeks.
Baccalaureate Mass and Degree Conferral ceremony on Friday, May 19 will last approximately 90 minutes. Duane Stadium will open approximately 1.5 hours before the ceremony.
We anticipate that the individual school ceremonies will last approximately 90 minutes.
Yes, all graduates will walk across the stage and their names will be read aloud at the individual school ceremonies on Saturday, May 20.
You will receive your diploma on Saturday, May 20, at your degree recognition ceremony. We will mail diplomas to anyone who is unable to attend their school-based ceremony on Saturday.
Commencement program booklets listing graduates’ names will be distributed digitally this year. Please check the Commencement homepage before the ceremony for links to the digital programs.
Yes, Commencement will be live-streamed on merrimack.edu. A link and additional information will be shared closer to the event.
Yes, the events on both Friday and Saturday will happen rain or shine. If there are extreme weather conditions, the College will communicate any changes.
If you must leave the complex, your hand will be stamped to allow re-entry.
The event will take place rain or shine outdoors. The event will be live-streamed on the web – www.merrimack.edu/commencement.
Baby Strollers
While strollers are allowed in Duane Stadium on the track, they are not allowed on the field.
Balloons
We do not allow balloons in Duane Stadium.
Food & Drink
Food and drink are not permitted in Duane Stadium during Commencement. Water will be available.
Pets & Service Animals
Service animals, not pets, are allowed in Duane Stadium. Learn more about service animals at ada.gov.
Bathrooms
The bathrooms are located next to the bleachers in Duane Stadium, and in the Merrimack Athletics Complex.
First Aid Stations
EMTs are stationed on the lower pavilion at the back of Duane Stadium.
Flowers for Purchase
Flowers can be purchased in the tent on the lower pavilion at the back of Duane Stadium.
Students participating in Commencement weekend events do not need to pre-order their cap and gown. Students will be able to purchase their cap and gown at the Grad Finale Event/Cap & Gown Pickup. Students who are unable to attend the Grad Finale events can order their cap and gown through the Merrimack bookstore beginning on Monday, May 1. Students can call the bookstore at 978-837-5431 or visit the bookstore in person during their normal business hours.
Graduate Students
Undergraduate Students
Students who have qualified for academic honors will be sent information on how to get cords from the College.
All students participating in Commencement should plan to attend a Grad Finale Event/Cap and Gown Pickup:
Graduate Students
Wednesday, April 26
3 – 7 p.m.
MPR in the Sakowich Campus Center
Undergraduate Students
Friday, April 28
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
MPR in the Sakowich Campus Center
At the Grad Finale Event/Cap and Gown Pickup students can purchase their cap and gown and pick up Commencement parking passes.
The cost for graduate students is $56.00
The cost for undergraduate students is $49.99
Diplomas presented to students during the individual school ceremonies on Saturday, May 20. Any not received will be mailed to each student’s home address at the beginning of June. If there have been any changes to your mailing address, students should make sure their current address is on file with the Warrior One Stop.
Each student should have received one parking pass for Friday and two parking passes for Saturday. Only guests with parking passes will be permitted to park on campus on Friday and Saturday. Students with parking passes residing on campus for senior week starting Monday, May 15 through Commencement must move their cars to a reserved location on campus on Friday, May 19. More information will be sent to these students as to where to move their vehicles.
Additional parking for Commencement will be available at Andover Landing, Haverhill St. (Rt. 133) Andover, MA. Shuttle service will be provided to and from Andover Landing.
The field and stands are handicap accessible, and there will be a small number of wheelchairs available for guests.
Those with handicap placards and a guest parking pass will be directed by the Merrimack College Police Department and parking attendants to park. Guests can also be dropped off at the Ash Centre circle.
Merrimack College is located at 315 Turnpike St. in North Andover, Massachusetts.
Yes, all graduates will have their photograph taken after walking across the stage at the individual school ceremonies on Saturday, May 20.
Photos will be available approximately one week after your ceremony:
- Go to www.barksdalephoto.com
- Scroll over “What are you looking for?”
- Click “Commencements”
- Find Merrimack College
- View and order your prints
No, all personal photos must be taken from your seating location. Professional photography will be available for purchase.
Please visit Merrimack’s Commencement Archive page to see past live streams of the event, digital programs and more.
