Graduation Information

Commencement Exercises

Mars Hill University is excited to announce event details for our recognition of summer and fall 2024 graduates.

Winter Commencement:

• Friday, December 13, 2024
• 3 p.m.
• Moore Auditorium
• Commencement will be streamed live on the MHU YouTube channel.

Security

• All faculty, staff, students, and guests will be screened by a hand-held metal detector wand before entry into Moore Fine Arts Building.
• We prohibit the presence and use of knives, guns, and other weapons on our campus.
• Graduation follows our no-bag policy. Small bags are acceptable and will be subject to search by a member of security.
• Guests with medical or child care needs will be permitted to carry one bag.

Parking

• ALL graduates need to park in the tiered lot behind Nash.
• Guests can park anywhere on campus, but the lots closest to Moore are Lunsford and Pittman
• Do not have your guests stop in the middle of the road to drop folks off at Moore. We will have a separate drop off area on Auditorium Drive (look for the Security directing traffic).
• If your guest(s) will be in a wheelchair, please email the registrar’s office ASAP so we can secure them handicap seating in the auditorium. At this time, graduates have only requested handicap parking for their guests. If you need to update your guest accommodations, please email me no later than Monday, December 9th.

MHU COMMENCEMENT REGALIA POLICY

Commencement is the paramount academic ceremony, and participants are expected to demonstrate their respect for the event and its significance by wearing appropriate attire beneath their regalia. Graduates should arrive dressed in your academic regalia – undergraduates: cap, gown, and tassel; graduate students: wear cap, gown, and tassel, and carry your hood. Only students with appropriate regalia will be permitted to walk. Graduates should dress up – Business Professional: dress pants, dress shirt, tie, dress shoes , dress pants/skirt, a nice blouse, or a dress. Students interested in wearing heels – please take note that there are a lot of stairs (our stage steps are fairly steep) and walking involved in the ceremony. No jeans, t-shirts, sweatpants, pajamas, or other causal clothing items.

BACCALAUREATE REGALIA

Bachelor’s degree graduates participating in the December or May commencement ceremony must wear appropriate regalia consisting of gown, mortarboard, and tassel purchased from the Mars Hill University Bookstore. Graduates keep their regalia following commencement. Regalia from other ceremonies is not permitted. A graduate in active military service at the time of commencement may wear the appropriate dress uniform in lieu of regalia but must drape the academic gown over his or her forearm when crossing the stage to receive a diploma. Graduates’ tassels are colored according to the degree earned:

• Bachelor of Arts — white
• Bachelor of Fine Arts — brown
• Bachelor of Music — pink
• Bachelor of Science — gold
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing – apricot
• Bachelor of Social Work — citron

Graduates who earn “Latin honors” (cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude) also wear a second tassel in institutional blue and gold provided by the university. During the ceremony, tassels must be worn on the right side of the mortarboard until graduates are directed to move them to the left side by the president.

A graduate who is a member of Alpha Chi (traditional students) or Alpha Sigma Lambda (nontraditional students) may wear that organization’s honor cord over his or her regalia during commencement.

Alpha Chi cords and Honors stoles will be given out at line-up prior to commencement. Information on procuring Alpha Sigma Lambda chords can be obtained from Sarah Burnette (sarah_burnette@mhu.edu).

Graduates who have successfully completed the university’s Honors Program curriculum wear a gold stole at Commencement in addition to any other recognitions.Latin Honor Tassels, Heritage Cords, Class Gift Cords, Alpha Sigma Lambda cords, and Honor Program stoles will all be given to graduates in Spainhour. Graduates may wear other cords or stoles but the University will not recognize other organizations in the program- (ex. Sororities, Fraternities, National Society of Leadership and Success, Student Athlete, etc.).

Graduates who give $20.24 towards the Senior Class Gift will receive a blue and gold philanthropy cord to wear during the ceremony.

Commencement Scheduling

Mars Hill Univerity holds two commencement exercises each academic year: one in December for students who complete their degree requirements in August or December, and one in May for those who finish in the spring.