Before the Ceremony

To Apply for Graduation

Doctoral Hooding Ceremony

Doctoral Hoodings will be conducted during the Saturday, January 25, 2025 ceremony at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Graduate and Undergraduate Commencement

The Graduate and Undergraduate Commencement is held at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa on Saturday, January 25, 2025.

Reserve Your Spot

Participating in commencement is a memorable event for all students. We’ve made reserving your space and ordering your gown for commencement quick and easy! To ensure you are registered and ready to go, log into BRUIN and type "Commencement Entry Form" in the search bar and follow the link to complete the Commencement Ceremony Entry Form.

Commencement Entry Deadline

Please submit your Commencement Ceremony Entry Form online, between August 16, 2024 and January 2, 2025.

We understand that sometimes things come up. If you miss the deadline date, you may still enter the ceremony and order your cap and gown at no extra charge, but your name may not appear in the commencement ceremony program. You also have the option of participating in the June 7, 2025 Commencement Ceremony instead.

Degree Conferral

Participation in the graduate and undergraduate commencement ceremony does not mean your degree has been conferred. We confer degrees daily, effective the last day of each month. Once the Registrar’s Office has verified that your degree program is 100% complete, we will notify you via your student email and ask you to order your diploma online. Your diploma will arrive approximately eight weeks after the conferral date. At the commencement ceremony, you will receive your diploma cover, but not your diploma.

Doctoral candidates must have all requirements for conferral completed before participating in the hooding ceremony. These requirements are:

  • Meet all admission requirements
  • Complete all curriculum requirements listed in the assigned University catalog
  • Pass all degree-required doctoral courses with a grade of “C” or better
    • A maximum of six credits with a grade below a “B-“ and no grade below a “C”
  • Attain an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher in the doctoral degree program
  • Have at least 49 credit hours in residence courses at Bellevue University (online courses are in residence)
  • Have ALL requirements completed satisfactorily, including defense of your dissertation, at least 30 days prior to the ceremony in which you will participate

Doctoral candidates will receive their diploma at the hooding ceremony on the Friday before the graduate and undergraduate ceremony. The Doctoral Hooding Ceremony is held on the main campus of Bellevue University in Bellevue, Nebraska.

If you have not yet received notification from the Registrar’s Office, you may check your Advisement Report in BRUIN under My Info. If it indicates your degree is 100% complete, you may complete the Diploma Order Form. Please do not complete the Diploma Order Form if your report indicates an incomplete degree, as early submission of the form may delay conferring your degree. We ask that you clear all obligations to the University so we can release your diploma.

If your Advisement Report does not indicate you have reached 100% completion when you believe it should, please contact your Academic Advisor. If you have questions regarding your diploma, please contact Student Records at [email protected] or 1.800.756.7920, ext. 557-7386.

Commencement Regalia

We are pleased to provide your regalia which includes a cap, tassel and any awarded cords for you to keep, and lend you a gown to participate in the commencement ceremony. Master's degree earners will also receive a souvenir hood. Included on the Commencement Entry Form is your height and shirt size; these measurements are used to order your rented regalia.

Doctoral students will wear a doctoral hood and regalia and there will be a formal hooding during the separate hooding ceremony held on the Friday before the graduate and undergraduate ceremony. Doctoral Hoodings will be conducted during the Saturday, January 25, 2025 ceremony at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

The approved regalia consists of a black cap, a black gown for both men and women, and a tassel. Doctoral students will wear a doctoral hood and regalia for a formal hooding during the Doctoral ceremony. Graduates receiving a Master’s degree wear a Master’s hood. Undergraduate participants meeting the criteria wear cords designating honors, if applicable. Those who have served or are currently serving in the United States Armed Forces wear red, white, and blue cords in addition to their commencement regalia. Bellevue University student-athletes wear purple recognition cords. If you wish to wear items other than the approved regalia, you will need to submit a written request to the Chief Academic Officer 60 days prior to the commencement ceremony. Email [email protected] for approval. If you fail to comply with standards for regalia, you will not be allowed to participate in commencement exercises.

Chi Sigma Iota and Omega Nu Lambda are official Bellevue University student organizations. Cords are approved for you to wear.

For any questions regarding commencement call 1.800.756.7920, ext. 557-7013.

Tassels

For all academic purposes, including trimmings of doctoral gowns, edging of hoods, and tassels of caps, these colors are associated with the different disciplines.

Cap and Gown Pick Up

Please pick up your cap and gown during the following dates and times. No appointment is necessary.

Our graduates who have served or are currently serving in the United States Armed Forces will be recognized during commencement. Please bring proof of service when picking up your cap and gown to receive your military service recognition cords.

Bellevue University Main Campus: Hitchcock Humanities Center

  • Tuesday, January 21, 2025
    4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, January 22, 2025
    11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
  • Thursday, January 23, 2025
    11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
  • Friday, January 24, 2025
    4:00 – 7:00 p.m. during Open House
  • All times listed for Cap and Gown Pick-Up are Central Standard Time (CT)

All regalia not picked up by 7:00 p.m. (CT), Friday, January 24, 2025, will be available at the Mid-America Center when you arrive at 8:00 a.m. (CT) on Saturday, January 25, 2025.

If you pick up your cap and gown and are unable to attend the commencement ceremony, please return the gown to the Commencement Team at the OneStop Welcome Center in the John B Muller Administrative Services Building, so you will not be charged and your diploma can be released. The cap, tassel, hood (if appropriate) and any awarded cords are yours to keep.

Bachelor's and Associate's Degrees Only

If you are a bachelor’s candidate and have completed a minimum of 60 credit hours in residence at the University, you may be eligible for honors at graduation. Credit hours earned with grades of pass/fail, CLEP/DSST, PLA, New York University Foreign Language Proficiency Exams, and other transfer credits do not count toward graduation honors. Honors will be estimated December 4, 2024. You will receive a Bachelor’s degree with honors if your cumulative grade point average in courses taken at Bellevue University falls within the following limits:

Bachelor Honors Distinction*

*60 credit hours in-residence

Associate Honors Distinction*

*30 credit hours in-residence

Honors - Graduate

Graduate honors are not awarded for Master's or doctoral degrees. Rigorous academic standards must be maintained in all graduate programs. In the academic tradition, there is no higher honor than to be admitted as a graduate student and ultimately receive a graduate degree.

Doctoral Hooding Ceremony

A Doctoral Hooding ceremony will be held AT THE Mid-America enter in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Saturday, January 25, 2025 | 8:00 a.m. (CT)
Ceremony Registration Form – applying for graduation

Doctoral graduates and their guests should arrive no later than 8:15 a.m. (CT) at the Mid-America Center to allow the graduates to dress in their regalia and for family to be seated. Staff will be on hand to assist with regalia.

All regalia not picked up by 7:00 p.m. (CT), Friday, January 24, 2025, will be available at the Mid-America Center when you arrive at 8:00 a.m. (CT) on Saturday, January 25, 2025.

A portrait photographer will be available for photos. Photos can be purchased online from Ceremony Photos about a week after the ceremony.

A Zoom link will be provided to registered graduates to share with their family and friends who could not attend. The ceremony will also be recorded and available on Bellevue University’s YouTube channel a few weeks after the ceremony.

There will be a short reception for Doctoral graduates and their families starting at 5:30 p.m. (CT) on Friday, January 24, 2025 at the Margre H. Durham Student Center.

Graduation Open House

The Graduation Open House will take place Friday, January 24, from 4-7 (CT) in the Margre H. Durham Student Center on the Bellevue University main campus. You and your guests are invited to attend this fun opportunity to connect with your instructors, classmates, and student coach/advisor. The event will include refreshments, guided campus tours, and get a professional photo taken with family and/or friends. The Bellevue University Bookstore will also be open until 7 p.m. (CT)

Campus Map

Nominate a Student Speaker

You have the opportunity to nominate the Student Speaker for the Saturday, January 25, 2025 Commencement Ceremony. Candidates may be nominated from the undergraduate and graduate class. Nominations will be accepted Friday, August 16, 2024 until 5 p.m. (CT) Friday, November 15, 2024. Review the qualifications and expectations of nominees, available on the Student Speaker Nomination Form.

Qualifications

  • Nominees must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
  • Nominees must be in good academic standing with the University.
  • Students can nominate themselves or be nominated by faculty, staff, or fellow students.
  • Nominees must be from the undergraduate or graduate class.
  • Nominees must not have been selected as a Bellevue University Student Speaker previously.

Nominees

Nominees must submit brief answers to the questions on the nomination form. If nominated by someone other than themselves, the questions will be sent to the nominee to complete and return by the deadline date of 5 p.m. (CT) Friday, November 15, 2024. Selected nominees will be asked to deliver a 2-3 minute “preview” speech before the Student Speaker Selection Committee.

The speech will be judged on the content (unique perspective, motivational aspects, relevant quotations, and anecdotes), presentation style, and delivery.

Please Note: The selected Student Speaker will be required to sign a media release agreement permitting Bellevue University to capture and use photographs, video recordings and/or audio recordings of the Student Speaker in connection with commencement events.

The commencement Student Speaker will receive:

  • Participation in the platform party processional and stage seating
  • Photograph, name, and bio information (provided by the Student Speaker) printed in the Commencement Program, a Bellevue University commencement news release, The View Alumni Magazine, and Bellevue University social media channels
  • Potential invitation to participate in local media interviews

For more information please visit bellevue.edu/student-support/graduation/ceremony or call 1-800-756-7920, ext. 557-7028.

Shout Outs and Social Media

You will have the opportunity to record and send in a video or text “Shout Out.” We will play the video “Shout Outs” on the big screens at commencement before the ceremony beginning at 8 a.m. Shout Outs submitted by Doctoral graduates will be shown prior to the Hooding Ceremony. They will also be posted online for viewing two weeks after commencement.

“Shout Outs” are a brief video clip or text message of graduating students sending out messages to family and friends, thanking them for their love and support. An example of a Shout Out: “Hi, Mom and Dad. Thanks so much for your love and support during my time at Bellevue University. It has been a great experience and I could never have made it without you.

  • Video Formats: Apple ProRes, AVI, M4V, MOV, MP4, MPEG, MPE, MPG, WMV
  • 1920x1080 or 1280x720, if possible
  • Shoot with camera/phone horizontally
  • Place camera/phone on table or tripod
  • Solid color background/wall behind you
  • Not handheld, if possible
  • Good lighting (light yourself from the front)
  • No windows or bright light source behind you
  • Say or spell your name before giving your Shout Out
  • Rename video file with student ID number
  • Upload your video to your Bellevue University OneDrive or similar service
  • Please submit your video shout outs by emailing [email protected]

  • Text shout outs have a limit of 255 Characters
  • Text shout outs must not contain nudity, profanity, hate speech, or adult content
  • Text shout outs can include one photo
  • Photos must not exceed 2 MB
  • Photos should be in focus, contain only your face (no group photos) and not contain nudity, profanity, hate speech, or adult content
  • Photo Formats: JPG or JPEG, PNG, TIFF, PSD, PDF, RAW, HEIF, and GIF

Video or Text Shout Outs can be submitted between Monday, December 9, 2024 and Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at 11:59 PM (CT). Questions? Contact [email protected].

Bellevue University reserves the right to edit or decline submissions at its sole discretion.

Join the party on social media!

  • Follow @BellevueU on Twitter and Bellevue University on Instagram
  • Use the hashtag #BUGrads2025 or #BUGrad2025 in your post

Graduation Announcements

While Bellevue University does not supply announcements for your graduation, we welcome our graduates to order announcements and/or class rings if they wish. We are proud to partner with Balfour for all of your graduation announcement and keepsake needs. Order online at https://www.cbgrad.com/school/BELLE.

Commencement Gifts

Pre-order your commemorative Bellevue University January 2025 Graduation t-shirt designed by The Commencement Group. The graduation t-shirt includes your name on the back along with the 2025 graduating class.*

To guarantee your name on the t-shirt, you must register for the Spring ceremony by January 2, 2025.

The Commencement Group also provides flowers and other graduation keepsakes for purchase prior to the start of the ceremony.

*Bellevue University recommends you arrange for one of your guests to pick up your items before the ceremony begins at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, IA on Saturday, January 25, 2025. Items will be ready for pickup when the doors open for graduates and guests at 8:00 a.m. The Commencement Group will be onsite for 30 – 45 minutes following the ceremony for any last-minute purchases.

To pre-order please visit: The Commencement Group

Graduation Photography

Bellevue University partners with Ceremony Photos to ensure professional photographs of each graduate are taken and made available for purchase. Portraits will be taken immediately after exiting the stage. Photos will be posted online and will be available 2 - 3 weeks after the ceremony. Please visit www.ceremonyphotos.com/events-proofs to view the photos. There is no obligation to purchase. If you have questions, please email [email protected] or call 1.402.917.6518.

Also join us on Facebook at facebook.com/BellevueUniversity.

Lodging

The following metro-area hotels are located very close to the Mid-America Center, where the commencement ceremony is held, and within 20 minutes of the University.

Hotels located close to Mid - America Center

  • Springhill Suites
  • 3216 Plaza View Drive,
  • Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501
  • 1.712.256.6500
  • Country Inn & Suites by Carlson
  • (Connected to the Mid-American Center via Skywalk)
  • 17 Arena Way,
  • Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501
  • 1.712.322.8282
  • Hilton Garden Inn
  • 2702 Mid America Drive,
  • Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501
  • 1.712.309.9000
  • Holiday Inn Express
  • 2211 South 32nd St,
  • Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501
  • 1.712.352.1300

Hotels located close to Bellevue University's main campus

  • Candlewood Suites Bellevue
  • 10902 S. 15th St
  • Bellevue, Nebraska 68123
  • 1.402.932.8144
  • Courtyard Omaha Bellevue at Beardmore Event Center
  • 3730 Raynor Pkwy
  • Bellevue, Nebraska 68123
  • 1.402.408.5300
  • Holiday Inn Express & Suites Bellevue
  • 10804 S 15th St
  • Bellevue, Nebraska 68123
  • 1.402.293.1600
  • Hampton Inn Bellevue
  • 3404 Samson Way
  • Bellevue, Nebraska 68005
  • 1.402.292.1607

Related links

Online Degrees Graduation Commencement Ceremony Information for Faculty Ceremony Memorabilia Applying for Graduation Doctoral Hooding Ceremony