Convocation

Fall 2024 Convocation

December 16 and 17

The Thunderbird School of Global Management will celebrate its Class of 2024 degree candidates at the fall 2024 convocation ceremony. The ceremony will take place on Tuesday, December 17 at 4 p.m. at the Phoenix Convention Center, South Ballroom (33 S 3rd Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004). Please find additional details below regarding ASU Commencement ceremonies, regalia and more.

Ceremonies were held on Monday, December 16 and Tuesday, December 17.

Monday, December 16 at 9 a.m. | ASU Graduate Commencement (Desert Financial Arena, Tempe, AZ)
Monday, December 16 at 2:30 p.m. | ASU Undergraduate Commencement (Mountain America Stadium, Frank Kush Field, Tempe, AZ)
Tuesday, December 17 at 4 p.m. (doors open at 3 p.m.) | Thunderbird School of Global Management Fall 2024 Convocation Ceremony (Phoenix Convention Center, South Building)

Other special interest ceremonies can be found here.

Image of undergraduate students during convocation

Convocation tickets

Tickets are not required for the Thunderbird Convocation ceremony. Graduating students are limited to five (5) guests. If a student would like to invite more guests, they can submit a request to tbird.convocation@thunderbird.asu.edu for approval.

Safety and security policies

Clear Bag Policy: All guests bringing a bag of any kind must meet the following specifications: clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC (Max size: 12”x6”x12”) or be a small clutch bag approximately the size of a hand (Max size: 4.5”x6.4”).

Helium balloons are not permitted inside the Phoenix Convention Center. If balloons are brought to the venue, guests will be asked to dispose of them before entering.

Banners and/or signs of any shape and size are not permitted inside of any ceremony venue.

Charla_Lena_graduate student convocation photo

Register to walk in the convocation ceremony

All ASU graduation ceremonies require reservations (RSVPs) from graduating students who wish to participate. Registration will be available beginning the week of October 14. Students will register via MarchingOrder on their MyASU homepage to attend the events, including undergraduate commencement, graduate commencement, Thunderbird Convocation, and special interest convocations. Learn more here: https://graduation.asu.edu/rsvp-attend-ceremony. The deadline to RSVP to is Tuesday, November 12 at 11:59 p.m. MST. Be sure to register in advance of that date.

Graduation Awards Ceremony and Reception

The Fall 2024 Graduating Student Awards Ceremony & Reception will take place on Tuesday, December 17 at 10 a.m. inside the Haas Digital Global Forum located on the first floor of Thunderbird Global Headquarters. This event is for the graduate receiving an award and their guests only. Award notices will go out approximately three weeks from the date of convocation.

Image of Thunderbird graduates carrying their country's flags in the flag ceremony

Parade of Flags

Thunderbird graduates have the opportunity to represent their home countries in the long-lived tradition of the Parade of Flags during convocation on December 17. Parade of Flag volunteers will need to be available for a short rehearsal at the Phoenix Convention Center in the early afternoon on that day. Participating students should also prepare 1-2 sentences about their home countries to share during the ceremony.

Graduating students interested in volunteering for the Parade of Flags should fill out this form no later than November 25, 2024. Registration is first-come, first-served, and further details will be provided to the selected graduates after the registration deadline.

Regalia Orders

All graduating students must wear proper regalia. Undergraduate students wear maroon. Graduate students wear black. Graduating students may purchase regalia directly from Herff Jones. The deadline to place this order is Wednesday, November 20, 2024 at 10:00 p.m. MST. Regalia will be mailed to the address the graduate provides. After this deadline, regalia may be purchased at the ASU Bookstore in person from March 1 until the day of graduation. Thunderbird Graduate regalia is only available at the Downtown Bookstore.

Herff Jones will also host an online grad fair with package discounts from Friday, October 18 at 8 p.m. MST. Graduating students will receive an individualized link via email on the morning of October 4.

Students can email help@southwestgrad.com for questions regarding regalia.

Faculty deadline to purchase regalia through Herff Jones is Friday, November 8 at 10:00 p.m. MST. After this deadline Faculty regalia can be purchased or rented at the ASU Tempe Bookstore (limited supply of ASU colored regalia only). Rental regalia for faculty is also available online here through Friday, November 8 at 8:59 p.m. MST to pick up at the campus selected. Custom faculty regalia can be purchased online here through Wednesday, October 28th.

Image of Thunderbird graduates in full regalia marching in the flag procession

Diplomas

If all university academic requirements are met, students will receive their diplomas in the mail six to eight weeks after the degree conferral date. Graduates will receive an email notification via their ASU email account when their diploma has been mailed. Diplomas are mailed to the student's diploma mailing address, which can be viewed and updated from My ASU. For more information, visit this website.

Regalia Photos

Once you receive* your cap and gown you may attend one of the following GradImages photography sessions where you may purchase a photo package. This is entirely optional. After the photo session, you will receive your photo proofs via email with instructions on how to select photos to purchase. Learn more and book an appointment here: https://graduation.asu.edu/ceremonies/memories

*Regalia must be individually purchased.

Date	Time	Campus
Tuesday, November 5	9 a.m. – 5 p.m.	Downtown Campus
Thursday, November 7	9 a.m. – 5 p.m.	West Valley Campus
Wednesday, November 6	9 a.m. – 5 p.m.	Polytechnic Campus
Friday, November 1	9 a.m. – 5 p.m.	Tempe Campus
Saturday, November 2	9 a.m. – 5 p.m.	Tempe Campus

FAQs

Can my parents join me for robing?

I want to wear heels–can I change shoes at the venue?

What should I bring to robing?

May I bring a sign or flag to wave so my guests can see me?

I want to sit with my friends! How can I make sure we’re all together?

I’m carrying a flag. How can I sit with my friends?

Can I decorate my cap?

My family wants to take pictures. Can I do that in the venue after the ceremony?

May I say a few words when getting my diploma or on stage?

Can I request an exception and have someone (child, parent, spouse) come on stage with me?

Click here to view a list of Frequently Asked Questions regarding fall 2024 ceremonies. For further inquiries, please contact tbird.convocation@thunderbird.asu.edu.

Information for Convocation Guests

If you are in need of hotel accommodations, options with special rates can be found here. Select “Phoenix Airport/Downtown Phoenix campus” for options closest to Thunderbird and the Convention Center.

If you arrive early to celebrate with your graduate, we invite you to join us in our historic Pub. Hours are as follows:

Monday- Wednesday, 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Thursday, 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Friday, 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.

We know you look forward to celebrating your graduate on the day of convocation; however, in order to have an amazing ceremony experience, we ask that you prepare to say “see you later” around 2 p.m. Graduates are required to line up, process in, and sit separately from their families for the ceremony.

Parking downtown is first-come, first-served in the many city garages and streets. Please be prepared to walk to the venue from your car. There is a drop off outside the venue.

We ask that families and friends attending the ceremony be at the venue and seated by 3:30 p.m. Convocation day photos may be taken back at Thunderbird HQ or outside the venue after convocation. The ceremony will end approximately at 5:45 p.m.