Commencement is one of my favorite events of the year. Few moments on the Hilltop capture such pride, joy, and possibility as when we celebrate our graduates and all they have accomplished.
This May, we are taking Commencement to the next level. We will gather at Ford Stadium for our first nighttime All-University Commencement ceremony, featuring SMU alumnus and Pro Football Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson as the graduation speaker. We have several surprises planned that will make the evening even more memorable.
As part of elevating this experience, we have reached a key decision. Beginning this year, SMU will hold a single All-University Commencement celebration each May and will no longer host a December ceremony. The schools will continue to hold degree recognition ceremonies in May.
Focusing on one All-University ceremony allows the full SMU community to come together and concentrate our energy and resources on creating a more meaningful event. This decision also reflects positive momentum in student success rates. More SMU undergraduates are completing their degrees within four years – a point of real pride and a reflection of our commitment to the value of an SMU degree. We are not alone. Many top universities like ours have come to the same conclusion and have moved to a single spring commencement.
Here is what this change means going forward:
Students who are on track to complete their degrees in August are invited to participate in the preceding spring All-University and degree recognition ceremonies.
Students who complete their degree requirements in August or December are invited to return to campus to participate in the following spring Commencement and diploma ceremonies.
A doctoral hooding ceremony will continue to be held each December to recognize our doctoral graduates. Doctoral candidates may participate in Commencement only after all degree requirements are complete.
For this initial transition year, a limited group of students who are on track to complete their degrees in December 2026 may be eligible to attend the May 2026 All-University Commencement ceremony, but not their school degree recognition ceremony. These students will be contacted directly with additional information. Students who have questions can contact the Registrar’s Office at registrar@smu.edu.
Thank you to the parents, faculty, and staff who guide our students to this milestone, and to the many team members who work behind the scenes to make Commencement such a special occasion on the Hilltop. And, thank you to the student government leaders who provided us with feedback on this plan. I am grateful for all that you do and look forward to celebrating together in Ford Stadium this spring.
