Spring Graduation Application Priority Deadline: March 1, 2023

Online Reservations and Cap and Gown Ordering Opens: February 2, 2023

Online Reservations and Cap and Gown Ordering Closes: May 1, 2023

Distinguished Faculty Award and Staff Award Nomination Deadline: April 21, 2023

Special Accommodations Request Deadline: April 28, 2023

Veteran's Recognition Deadline: May 1, 2023

Grad Pack Sent Out: Week of May 1-5, 2023

This pack will include tickets (3-4 per grad after final grad count), one parking pass for specific parking ramps nearby the venue, a name reader card for you to provide the correct pronunciation of your name at the ceremony, high honors medallions, and program specific stoles or cords for those who qualify.

Commencement Ceremony: May 15, 2023, Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis, 6:30PM

Planning to participate in commencement? All graduates must wear appropriate apparel (aka regalia) to join in the ceremony. Reserve your cap, gown and tassel online through our partner, Herff Jones.

Program specific tassels (Nursing, Dental Hygiene) are available for $5 at http://gradmidwestnormandale.square.site/. 

Additional items like stoles, cords, and medallions will be sent out via the Grad Pack the week of May 1-5, 2023 .

More information about the ceremony coming soon!

For all other questions or concerns about Commencement, please email the team.

Honors

Normandale confers special awards to graduates* with a cumulative grade point average above 3.00. There are two levels of Commencement honors:

Honors: 3.00 - 3.49

High Honors: 3.50 or higher

Honors recipients receive a gold tassel. Additionally, high honors recipients receive a medallion.

For purposes of the commencement ceremony, honors for spring degree candidates are determined by the student’s cumulative Normandale GPA in college-level courses completed through fall semester. The final designation, as it appears on your transcript and diploma, will be based on grades earned in all Normandale college-level coursework.

*Note, honors are not awarded for certificate completers.

Honor Societies

We recognize members of Phi Theta Kappa and Mu Alpha Theta honor societies at Commencement via stoles and/or cords. Contact the honor society advisor or college representative for information about special items.

Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) advisor: Renee Cortez, renee.cortez@normandale.edu
Mu Alpha Theta advisor: Julie Nybakken, julie.nybakken@normandale.edu

Tassels and Medallions

You will receive one tassel with your cap and gown. It’s yours to keep! Here’s what the different tassel colors mean:

Black & Red: Normandale graduate or certificate completer

White: Nursing

Lilac: Dental Hygiene

Sage: Dietetic Technology

Gold: Commencement Honors

You may purchase an additional tassel from Herff Jones or swap your complimentary tassel at no charge (except for the Honors tassel).

Program specific tassels (Nursing, Dental Hygiene) are available for $5 at http://gradmidwestnormandale.square.site/. 

Veterans

Currently active and veteran service members are invited to be recognized at Commencement. For more information, please email the commencement team.

Distinguished Faculty Award & Staff Award

We invite graduates to nominate a staff or faculty member who made a difference during their time at Normandale. You will receive an email from the Commencement Committee to submit your nominations. The recipient of the award is announced and honored on the evening of commencement.

Faculty nominations include: Instructors, librarians, counselors etc.

Staff nominations include: Academic advisors, administrative assistants, Admissions, Academy of Math & Science advisors, Campus Store/Textbook Depot staff, Center for Experiential Education, Events, Facilities, Financial Aid, IT, Student Life, Student Services, TRIO, Tutoring Center Tutors, New Student Programs, Office for Students with Disabilities, Records & Registration, Veterans Affairs staff etc.