Commencement

Kutztown University will celebrate the 2026 Fall Commencement on Saturday, December 12, 2026. The ceremony will take place in the O'Pake Fieldhouse.

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

Eleanor Roosevelt

• Student Commencement Speakers

  Applications are being accepted through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 for student commencement speakers for the spring commencement ceremonies this May. Two students will be selected to speak before their graduating class and guests:

  • One graduate student

  • One undergraduate student

  Please direct all questions about the commencement speaker application process to Bryan Salvadore at salvadore@kutztown.edu (Undergraduate students) or to Dr. Carl Sheperis at sheperis@kutztown.edu (Graduate students).

• Graduation Festival

  Kutztown University Student Services, Inc. ("KUSSI") is sponsoring a Graduation Festival for the graduating class of Fall 2026 on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, in MSU 218 from 11:00am - 7:00pm.

  
  Grad Fest is a "one-stop-shop" for graduates to purchase caps and gowns, order class rings, purchase diploma frames and learn more about KU Alumni Engagement. The following vendors and KU offices will be available on site at Grad Fest:

  • Oak Hall Caps & Gowns
  • Balfour Class Rings & Announcements
  • KU Campus Store Official Logo and Alumni Merchandise
  • Diploma Frames
  • KU Registrar's Office
  • PSECU
  • KU Graduate Admissions
  • KU College of Graduate Studies
  • Career Development Center
  • Alumni Engagement
  • Financial Aid
  • KU Outcomes Survey
  • Senior Portraits

  Take advantage of this event to purchase your cap & gown at a discount. For additional information or questions regarding purchases, contact KUSSI at 610-683-4091.

• Academic Regalia

  Purchasing Your Cap and Gown    

  If you participate in the commencement exercise, you must purchase complete academic regalia from the KU Campus Store. The use of any other academic regalia is NOT permitted. Purchasing your regalia indicates your intention to participate in the commencement ceremony. Only students who are participating in the commencement ceremony will receive tickets.

  Academic regalia may be purchased at the Graduation Festival for a discount. Payment can be made by cash, check, credit card, or Bear Bucks.  Please note that the Campus Store is unable to accept credit cards or checks belonging to someone other than the student, unless that individual is present. You will be required to present photo identification to purchase your regalia.

  If you cannot attend the Graduation Festival, academic regalia may be purchased through the KU Campus Store at full price online or in person during normal business hours between the dates of November 16 through December 10. Please visit kubstore.com for the most up to date business hours. For additional information or questions regarding regalia purchases, contact the KUSSI Service Center at 610-683-4090.

  Kutztown University uses GreenWeaver® graduation gowns as part of the ongoing effort to "go green."  Each gown is made of 23 recycled plastic bottles. This fabric is softer to the touch and more breathable than traditional polyester fabric. For every gown purchased, Oak Hall will make a donation to support Kutztown University's sustainability programs. The changes that were made to the undergraduate cap & gown package also provide a cost savings to those students.

  Cap and Gown Care Instructions

  For the best appearance, the academic gown should be removed from the package immediately and placed on a hanger to allow the folds to fall out.  Hanging it in a high humidity area, such as the bathroom while you shower, will accelerate this process. If you wish to press, turn inside out and press with a warm, NOT HOT, iron.  Steaming is also an option.  The commencement regalia are yours to keep.

• Class Rings

  The official Kutztown University class ring collection will be on sale at Grad Fest.

  You may also visit the Kutztown University section of the Balfour website for custom designs and to order online.

• Commencement Announcements

  Commencement announcements may be purchased at Grad Fest and will be available at the KU Campus Store, located on the lower level of the McFarland Student Union during normal hours of operation. You may also visit the Kutztown University section of the Balfour website for custom designs and to order online.
  

• Graduation Portraits

  GradImages by Balfour

  Students now have the opportunity to have professional photographs taken prior to commencement. GradImages will be on campus taking individual cap and gown and professional dress photographs. A cap and gown will be provided if you have not bought your own regalia. Don't forget that you can use these portraits for your professional networking and job search sites!

  Students will be provided with hard copy proofs as well as electronic copies to review with their family and friends. There is no cost to be photographed nor the obligation to make a purchase.

   A Grad Images photographer will be on campus on the following dates:

  • Tuesday, October 20, 2026 in MSU 223 (Formal Dining Room) from 11:00am - 7:00pm.

  Appointments recommended. Walk-up's possible based on availability. 
  

  Appointments can be made at GradImages by Balfour. Please use this link for GradImages by Balfour to choose your appointment time. Students are encouraged to wear professional attire.

• Outstanding Balances and Restrictions

  Please take a moment to log onto MyKU to see if you have any outstanding balances that could cause your account to be restricted (i.e. parking tickets, Hall room damages, ID replacement and tuition balances). This restriction will stop you from formally graduating, getting a diploma and block your accessibility to transcripts. If you are unable to access MyKU, you may contact the Office of Student Accounts. All outstanding issues, balances, and appeals must be resolved before commencement. You can reach the Office of Student Accounts at 610-683-4133.

  For future reference, transcript requests can be made through the Registrar's Office.

  If you move, please be sure to change your address online. You may be receiving tuition tax documents and other necessary communications from Kutztown University.

• Career Outcomes Survey

  Undergraduate and Graduate Students: Please click HERE to log in to Handshake to complete your Career Outcomes Profile BEFORE graduation. The brief survey takes just five minutes. 

• Tickets

  Tickets for Admission to Commencement

  Each degree candidate will be allotted six (6) guest tickets for the commencement ceremony on Saturday,  December 12, 2026.   

  Your tickets will become available shortly AFTER you have purchased your regalia for Commencement. This could be up to four days later.  To get your tickets please visit our KU ticketing website:  https://kutztown.universitytickets.com   You must either Log In or Register your account by clicking the button at the top right of the ticketing screen.  Please choose students/faculty/staff and either create your account with your KU email address or simply log in if you’ve already created one.  Only KU student email addresses will be accepted for commencement tickets.  If you have registered another email address you must contact commencement@kutztown.edu to update this to your KU email address.

  Only the graduating student will have access to their commencement tickets.  Tickets will not be visible to underclassmen, families and/or their guests if they attempt to register to get them.  Once downloaded, tickets are transferable by the graduate to their guests.  Tickets are NEVER sold so the public cannot purchase tickets through this site.

  • Candidates do not need tickets for themselves.
  • Children ages 3 and up are required to have a ticket.
  • Guests will not be admitted without a ticket.

  The ceremonies will be streamed live so that those who can't attend will be able to see you on the stage with President Cavalier.

  • Visit the Commencement Coverage page for the link.

  Extra Tickets: 

  Seating at the commencement ceremony is limited. Students who have a need for more guest tickets for the ceremony may click on the link below to be included in a random distribution of extra tickets. Completed forms must be submitted no later than Friday, November 20, 2026 to qualify.

  The number of extra tickets given are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed.

  Students identified through the randomized selection process will be notified by email on or after Wednesday, December 2, 2026.  Tickets will be assigned to the students who are awarded them and will be available at the KU Ticketing website.

  One entry per graduate. Multiple entries will be disregarded. Please be sure to enter your complete KU email address accurately on the form so that you will be able to receive messages related to your request.  Only KU student emails will be accepted.  Only those graduates  who are eligible for tickets may request additional tickets.

  The link for extra tickets is not opened yet.  It will be opened on Monday, November 2, 2026 through Friday, November 20, 2026.  The link will appear here when it is open.

• Academic Etiquette

  Candidates are expected to wear complete commencement attire, WITH NO ALTERATIONS TO THE GOWN. Candidates may decorate their caps. Candidates wearing profane messages of any type on the caps and gowns will NOT be permitted to participate in the commencement ceremony.

  At commencement, the men will remove their hats for the invocation, benediction and alma mater.

  • All bachelor's degree candidates will wear mortarboard caps with tassels on their RIGHT side prior to degrees being conferred. The President will formally confer degrees and will instruct graduates to move the tassel to the left side of the mortarboard cap.

  • Master's and doctoral degree candidates will wear their tassels on the LEFT side at all times.

  Dignity of Ceremony

  You are expected to be robed and conduct yourself in a dignified manner as you participate in this traditional ceremony. Please do not leave your seats or engage in lengthy conversation with others during the ceremony.

  In order to allow for a smooth exit of all in attendance, please maintain an orderly pace during the recessional from the Kutztown University O'Pake Fieldhouse.

• Time and Place To Report

  Fall commencement information:

  Students are to report to the Student Recreation Center, West Gym  at their academic college robing area on the day of commencement as follows:

  • Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral students from all colleges should report no later than 9:00am for the ceremony scheduled on Saturday, December 12, 2026 at 10:00am.

  Please note that the commencement ceremony will begin promptly at its scheduled time.  

  Once you have robed, you must sign in with the Dean of your college and pick up your index card, which includes your name, designated academic college, and honors, if earned. 

  Students will line up in the West Gym of the Student Recreation Center and will walk in line for the processional into the O'Pake Fieldhouse.

  Seating at the ceremony:  If you wish to sit beside a friend who is receiving a degree in your discipline, you must line up in front or in back of that person, not beside him/her. Once the line begins to move, candidates will not be permitted to switch places in the line.

• Parking

  Plan to arrive early to allow plenty of time to find a parking space and walk/take the shuttle to the O'Pake Fieldhouse for the ceremony. The primary parking areas for the ceremony are Lots A2, & A3. Click here to view a map of the campus.

  Lots A2 and A3 are the most convenient parking areas in terms of arriving to and leaving campus after commencement. All guests are encouraged to use these lots due to the construction project occurring at Keystone Hall (adjacent to the O'Pake Fieldhouse).  Complimentary shuttles will run continuously from 8:45am until 1:00pm from the A2 lot to the O'Pake Fieldhouse.  Shuttles will only run between these two locations.  There will be handicap accessible buses for our guests that need them.

  Parking in the C Lots is an option but please be advised, there will be no shuttle service from these lots.

  Parking closest to the O'Pake Fieldhouse (Lot E-1 ) will not be an option due to construction occurring in the Keystone Hall building for the safety of all guests.

  Lot E-2 is reserved for patrons with state-issued handicap plates or placards. While there are other lots that are reasonably close to the facility, individuals with mobility issues should plan to arrive early as these spaces are very limited.  Alternatively, a drop-off area will be available to families that wish to drop off patrons with mobility issues closer to the venue. Guests who wish to drop off those with mobility issues should enter campus from Kutztown Road at Rothermel Hall since a section of South Campus Drive from Baldy Road will be closed for the protection of pedestrian traffic.  The E-2 Lot will be accessible from Baldy Street.  A state-issued handicap placard does not guarantee guests parking in this reserved parking area.
  
  It is a good idea to arrange a place to meet your family after the program concludes. South Campus Drive will be closed from Court Lane to Baldy Street for the duration of the commencement ceremony for safer pedestrian movement. If you have any questions or concerns about parking for commencement, feel free to contact Public Safety and Police Services at 610-683-4002.

• Accessible Accomodations

  SPECIAL SEATING AND/OR PARKING

  Persons with a disability who require special seating should notify commencement staff immediately. 

  Parking closest to the O'Pake Fieldhouse (lot E-1 & lot E-2) is reserved for patrons with state-issued handicap plates or placards. While there are other lots that are reasonably close to the facility, individuals with mobility issues should plan to arrive early as these spaces are very limited. Alternatively, a drop-off area will be available to families that wish to drop off patrons with mobility issues near the venue. Both of these areas are accessible from Baldy Street.  A state-issued handicap placard does not guarantee guests parking in our reserved parking areas.
  
  

  OTHER SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS

  Persons with a disability and who require assisted listening devices, an ASL interpreter, or other special accommodation should notify the Disability Services Office at 610-683-4108 immediately. (TDD number 610-683-4499). It is recommended that requests be submitted as early as possible but at least two weeks prior to the ceremony to ensure the availability of accommodations needed.

• Seating

  Most guests attending commencement are seated in the general seating area. Special seating in the Kutztown University O'Pake Fieldhouse is available for guests with special needs. Seating in this area is by reservation only. Please have someone capable of assisting you from your parking area to the O'Pake Fieldhouse.  

  Ushers assigned to the Accessible Seating area are not trained to assist you with your disability. Please make sure that you have someone with you who is capable of handling your special need.

  Seating in this area is by reservation only. Please contact commencement staff to make your reservation as soon as possible.

  Wheelchairs are available during the ceremony for emergencies, with limited availability to transport guests from the Fieldhouse entrance to their seats. An area will be provided in the Fieldhouse to store personal wheelchairs that are not in use during the ceremony.

• Diplomas

  Students will cross the stage at the commencement ceremony to receive a diploma cover only, not their actual diploma. Given the time limitations associated with commencement, the actual awarding of a degree by the University in all cases is subject to verification by the Registrar to ensure that all requirements for your degree have been satisfied.  Since verification cannot be accomplished until after commencement, exercises are to be considered as ceremonial only. The honors listing for undergraduate students in the commencement program is based on the previous semester's GPA.  The University will notify graduates when diplomas become available.

• Photographs

  In order to provide the best opportunity for a quality photograph to document the occasion, a professional photographer from Legacy Photographics will be on stage during the commencement ceremony to take a picture of each graduate with President Cavalier as he/she receives the diploma cover. 

  Not only will graduating students have the best possible photograph of their accomplishment, their guests will be able to remain seated without worrying about getting close to the stage to "capture the moment."  Look for information to be sent via email to all graduates from Legacy Photographics  a few weeks before the event.

• Driving Directions

  From the Reading Area:

  From Route 222 North, take the Kutztown exit, pass the Airport Diner and make a right onto South Campus Drive. Parking will be available in lots C1 and C2, where guests can board a shuttle that will take them to the O'Pake Fieldhouse beginning at 7 a.m.  Another option would be to continue past South Campus drive and turn left at the second light onto College Boulevard.  Proceed to lots A2 and A3, where guests take the shuttle bus from lot A2 to the O'Pake Fieldhouse. View a map of campus.
  
  From the Allentown Area:

  From Route 222 South, take the Kutztown exit; this ramp will lead you onto Main Street. Take Main Street the entire way through town until you come to the light at the top of the hill. Make a left onto Normal Avenue and a right into lot F1. Another option is to turn right off of Main Street onto College Boulevard and park in lots A2 and A3, where guests can take the shuttle bus from lot A2 to the O'Pake Fieldhouse. View a map of campus. 
  
  From Interstate 78:

  Take exit 54A onto Route 222 South. Continue on South 222 for 13 miles. Take the Kutztown exit (where freeway begins). Follow the directions for "From the Allentown Area" above.

CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2026!

As graduation nears, you may feel inspired to support the KU students who are following in your footsteps. If you want to leave a legacy and support the GOLDEN experience at Kutztown, please consider contributing to the Class Gift.

You will have an opportunity to give during Grad Fest this year. 

A link will be avaible soon for GIVE to provide more information, and to make your gift!

Together, We’re Golden!