Convocation

Spring 2025 Convocation

May 12 and 13

Thunderbird's spring 2025 convocation ceremony will take place Tuesday, May 13 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. MST at Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium, a multipurpose performing arts center located at 1200 South Forest Avenue along East Apache Boulevard in Tempe, Arizona.

Ceremonies will take place on Monday, May 12 and Tuesday, May 13.

Monday, May 12 at 9 a.m. | ASU Graduate Commencement (Desert Financial Arena, Tempe, AZ)
Monday, May 12 at 7:30 p.m. | ASU Undergraduate Commencement (Mountain America Stadium, Frank Kush Field, Tempe, AZ)
Tuesday, May 13 at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.) | Thunderbird School of Global Management Fall 2024 Convocation Ceremony (ASU Gammage, Tempe, AZ)

Other special interest celebrations can be found here.

For those unable to attend in-person, they may view the live-stream of the convocation ceremony here.

Image of undergraduate students during convocation

Convocation tickets

Tickets are not required for the Thunderbird Convocation ceremony.

Safety and security policies

ASU Gammage values the safety and security of its patrons and has implemented enhanced security measures. Patrons will be screened using metal detectors and limited to one carry-in item per person. ASU Gammage does not use metal detectors that use magnetic waves in them. They are safe to use for any guest who has a medical implant that is sensitive to magnetic waves, such as a pacemaker.
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”).
Prohibited items: Helium balloons are not permitted inside ASU Gammage. 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 for spring 2025 ceremonies opened Monday, February 24. Students will register via Tassel on their MyASU homepage (RSVP Ceremonies link) to attend the events, including undergraduate commencement, graduate commencement, Thunderbird Convocation, and special interest convocations. Failure to properly submit the form will result in your registration not being recorded. Ceremony registration for spring 2025 closed on Monday, April 7. Learn more at: https://graduation.asu.edu/rsvp-attend-ceremony.

Graduation Awards Ceremony and Reception

The Spring 2025 Graduating Student Awards Ceremony & Reception will take place on Tuesday, May 13 from 1 to 2 p.m. MST 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 May 13. Parade of Flag volunteers will need to be available for a short rehearsal at ASU Gammage in the 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 April 25, 2025. 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. Students can purchase their graduation regalia online through Herff Jones until April 14. 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 8 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 February 14 at 8 a.m. MST until Friday, March 7 at 8 p.m. MST. Graduating students will receive an individualized link via email on the morning (AZ time) of February 14. Students can email help@southwestgrad.com for questions regarding regalia.

Faculty deadline to purchase regalia through Herff Jones is Friday, March 21 at 10 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, April 4 at 10 p.m. MST to pick up at the campus selected starting May 5. Custom faculty regalia can be purchased online here through Friday, March 21.

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
Thursday, April 3	9 a.m. – 5 p.m.	Tempe Campus
Friday, April 4	9 a.m. – 5 p.m.	Tempe Campus
Saturday, April 5	9 a.m. – 5 p.m.	Tempe campus
Tuesday, April 8	9 a.m. – 5 p.m.	Downtown campus
Thursday, April 10	9 a.m. – 5 p.m.	West Valley campus
Friday, April 11	9 a.m. – 5 p.m.	Polytechnic campus

FAQs

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 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.

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, 12 - 5 p.m.
Thursday, 12 - 10 p.m. (last call at 9:30 p.m.)
Friday, 12 - 5 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 5 p.m. Graduates are required to line up, process in, and sit separately from their families for the ceremony.

We ask that families and friends attending the ceremony be at the venue and seated by 6:30 p.m. Convocation day photos may be taken back at Thunderbird Global Headquarters or outside the venue (ASU Gammage) after convocation. The ceremony will end approximately at 8:30/8:45 p.m.

Parking and shuttle information

Parking details

ASU Gammage is located at 1200 S. Forest Ave. Tempe, AZ 85281 on the campus of Arizona State University. Parking is conveniently located in the ASU Gammage Lot (also referenced as Lot 3 on some maps). Please be prepared to navigate a short distance to the auditorium from your vehicle. There is also a drop off area outside the venue (along NE corner) for those needing closer access to disembark passengers before parking. There is no cost to park. More information can be found here: https://www.asugammage.com/visitors/parking.

Directions to ASU Gammage Lot (Lot 3)

From US 60 – Exit S. Mill Ave. (Exit 173) – turn north onto S. Mill Ave. to 13th St./Apache Blvd.– turn east onto 13th St./Apache Blvd. – turn north onto S. Forest Ave. to Lemon St. – entrance to lot on your left
From Loop 101 (northbound) – Exit E. Broadway Rd. continue on Frontage (Price Rd.) to E. Apache Blvd. – turn west onto E. Apache Blvd. to S. Forest Ave. – turn north onto S. Forest Ave. to Lemon St. – entrance to lot on your left
From Loop 101 (southbound) – Exit E. University Dr. continue on Frontage (Price Rd.) to E. Apache Blvd. – turn west onto E. Apache Blvd. to S. Forest Ave. – turn north onto S. Forest Ave. to Lemon St. – entrance to lot on your left
From Loop 202 –Exit N. Scottsdale Rd. – turn south onto N. Scottsdale Rd to Apache Blvd. - turn west onto E. Apache Blvd. to S. Forest Ave. – turn north onto S. Forest Ave. to Lemon St.

ASU shuttles

Graduates attending the convocation ceremony at ASU’s Tempe campus are encouraged to take advantage of the ASU intercampus shuttle from the Downtown Phoenix campus if they prefer not to drive. The shuttle provides a convenient and free transportation option for students, faculty, and staff.

Please plan ahead and allow for extra travel time, as multiple shuttles may be in service during peak hours, but schedules can be impacted by traffic delays. For real-time shuttle locations and estimated arrival times, use the ASU Shuttle Tracker to stay informed.