Congratulations! We are proud that you have reached this major milestone! We look forward to joyfully celebrating your academic accomplishments with you and your friends and family. Yes, we are very proud of all that you have achieved, but we celebrate especially because you have done so as a member of our Franciscan community. It has been a joy and a privilege for us to accompany you along your Franciscan educational and formational journey. We are confident that, as graduates, you have become highly skilled professionals, integrated thinkers and faith-filled leaders. May you continue to grow professionally, intellectually and spiritually as Franciscan servant leaders, and may you always be examples of our Franciscan core values of service, reverence and love for life, humility, justice and joy.
Blessings,
Dr. H.
Stay up-to-date on important graduation events and deadlines
Use this checklist to complete all tasks needed to graduate
Find answers to general questions about graduation.
Order your graduation announcements.
Online graduates should regularly check their University email accounts for updated information. If you have additional questions, please call FranU at (225) 526-1700 to be directed to the appropriate department or staff member.
Online students are also encouraged to attend the Graduation Prep Day virtual session if at all possible.
All Fall Graduates are invited to attend Graduation on Saturday, December 14, 10 AM in the Raising Cane’s River Exhibition Hall (275 South River Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70802). The Graduation ceremony will begin promptly at 10 AM. All graduates should arrive, in full regalia, no later than 9 a.m. We do not anticipate the ceremony lasting longer than 2 hours. If you have plans afterwards, please allow time for exiting the River Center and parking garage.
Attendees must follow all River Center procedures that take effect between now and Graduation.
IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING THE PROCESSIONAL (ENTRANCE OF GRADUATES): All Exhibition Hall doors will closed promptly when the ceremony begins. These doors will remain closed until the conclusion of the National Anthem as not to disturb our processional and/or distract graduates as they process in. Therefore, please ensure that your guests arrive in plenty of time prior to the ceremony, or they risk being held in the lobby outside of the Ex Hall during the processional.
The River Center has a clear bag ONLY policy. All bags must adhere to the size restrictions given on the attached flyer. There is also a list of prohibited items attached. Please ensure that you and your guests review both handouts carefully.
Graduation will enforce an “admission by ticket only” policy for guests, meaning, all guests must present a ticket to enter. We are hopeful that each graduate will be given seven (7) guest tickets. Note: your number of guests includes children, each child counts as a guest and must have a ticket. Exception: children under (1) year old who will sit on someone’s lap for the entirety of the ceremony do not need a ticket.
As guest seating is not assigned, “trading” of tickets among students will be permitted.
If you need additional tickets, coordinate with a classmate who has extras, OR, if you need our assistance, please email your request to cayla.cline@franu.edu. I will contact all who submitted requests and will do my best to fill them as completely as possible.
If you don’t need all of your tickets, please bring extras back to the President’s Office by Monday, December 2 at 5 p.m. or give to a fellow graduate. All tickets returned to us will be re-distributed to graduates who submitted requests.
You’ll receive your tickets with your cap & gown on November 12 & 13. It’s YOUR responsibility to keep track of your tickets. Please contact me to arrange an alternate pick-up date if needed. There will be a Will-Call station at Graduation for out-of-town students or anyone who wishes to use this option.
We’re creating a photo slideshow to show during graduation. These pictures should represent your time at FranU and can be individual or group photos. We aren't looking so much for "official" portraits (although Graduation photos are fine), but more casual photos of you and classmates in class, clinicals, volunteer work, campus events, spending time together outside of school, receiving awards/White Coats, etc. Please email all photos to Cayla Cline (cayla.cline@franu.edu) by Monday, December 2 at 5 p.m.
Upon arrival to the River Center, attendees should park in the venue’s parking garages. There is a fee for these garages. You are also welcome to attempt to find street parking. THE RIVER CENTER IS A CASHLESS VENUE-INCLUDING PARKING GARAGES. Please ensure you have a debit/credit card.
The Galleria entrance near the parking garages on St. Louis Street will be the entrance for graduates to enter and exit, so please plan accordingly. Guest should enter the main entrance of the ballroom (see map).
Upon entering through the Galleria, all graduates should proceed to the student holding room to check in with the Registrar and receive your name card.
Your name card includes your full name as it will be announced during the ceremony- please do not crumple, tear, or write on it. If you notice a mistake, notify the Registrar immediately. Please carry it with you during the ceremony (and when approaching the stage), as the names of graduates are read from these cards rather than from a master list. You may receive a second colored card with your name card, which you should also keep with you. Further instructions will be given during line-up.
After checking in, please stay in the vicinity of the student holding rooms. Thirty (30) minutes prior to the ceremony, students will be gathered to begin lineup. IF NOT IN THE HOLDING ROOM AT THIS TIME, you risk not being able to process in/sit with your classmates.
After presenting their tickets at the entrance, your guests should make their way to the Ballroom. Once inside Ballroom, FranU staff will show them to their seats behind the student and faculty sections. There will be handicapped seating available.
As not to disturb our processional, all Ballroom doors will close promptly at 10 a.m. and will remain closed until after the National Anthem. Please ensure that your guests arrive in plenty of time prior to the ceremony, or they risk being held in the lobby outside of the Ballroom during the processional.
After check-in, you’ll wait in the student holding room to line up. Please follow all instructions during line-up, the procession, and once you enter the Ballroom. Once seated, please do not get up unless absolutely necessary. Graduates will sit by program: Doctorate, then Master’s, then Undergraduates by school.
When it’s time to award diplomas, graduates will be prompted to line up near the stage and should follow all instructions to maintain your place in line. All guests should remain seated. As your name is announced, you’ll walk across stage to receive your diploma (and be hooded, if applicable). If a Master’s or Doctoral graduate, staff will assist you in draping your hood over your arm correctly before you walk across stage. More hood instructions will be emailed the week of Graduation. Barclell will take photos on stage as you receive your diploma (and hood, if applicable). Once off stage, you’ll take another photo in front of a backdrop and receive gifts from the Alumni Association before returning to your seat. There will be a closing prayer and final words to conclude the ceremony before the exit.
At the ceremony’s conclusion, faculty will exit first to traditional recessional music. Then, the graduates and platform party (those sitting on stage) will recess to a “Second Line”. Each program will receive two (2) parasols to decorate for the Second Line however you’d like- beads, glitters, feathers, sequins, etc.! All decorated parasols are due back to the President’s Office by Wednesday, December 11 at 5 p.m. When you drop them off, please include the name of your program and the students who will carry them during the Second Line. All graduates who don’t carry parasols will have handkerchiefs on their chairs to wave during the Second Line. These are yours to keep as mementos from the ceremony. If your program wishes for more parasols to decorate, please contact me, Cayla Cline.
Please come to Graduation dressed in full regalia (cap/gown/tassel) as extras will NOT be available. It is YOUR responsibility to wear any items given to you at Graduation Mass and your Pinning and Awards the day before, if you so choose. All regalia pieces you receive are yours to keep.
FranU and/or the Raising Cane’s River Center are not responsible for your personal belongings. Please give them to family and friends prior to the start of the ceremony.
Please remember that while Graduation is an important and exciting celebration, it is still an academic ceremony of dignity. Your families are encouraged to recognize you when you receive your diplomas. Their enthusiasm is warranted; however, the use of air horns/artificial noisemakers is inappropriate.
Guests may bring cameras, but students should give all personal belongings to loved ones prior to the ceremony. Students aren’t allowed to have anything in your hands, e.g., a phone or purse. You can wear a small bag/purse under your gown if needed (remember, clear bags only)!
Barclell will take a photo as you receive your diploma as you are walking across stage (and hood, if applicable). Once offstage, they’ll take a portrait of you in front of a background. Barclell will also post proofs on their website after Graduation which you can purchase. Questions? Please call (225)791-1951 or email them at BarclellStudio@yahoo.com.
Graduates will be issued a cap, gown, and tassel. All regalia pieces you receive are yours to keep.
It is strongly suggested that you wear all regalia to ensure you have all items. Extra/additional caps, gowns, or tassels will NOT be available.
Graduates in a Bachelor degree program can graduate:
Cum Laude graduates receive gold tassels to wear with the gown. Magna Cum Laude graduates receive gold tassels and gold/navy cords. Summa Cum Laude graduates receive gold tassels and
gold cords. All Honors items become the property of the graduate and will be distributed at the Graduation Mass. It is YOUR responsibility to bring (and wear) these items to Graduation, if you choose!
Graduates in an Associates program can graduate with:
Honors graduates receive gold tassels to wear with the gown. Highest Honors graduates receive gold tassels & navy/white cords. All tassels and cords will be distributed at your Graduation Mass and become the property of the graduate. It is YOUR responsibility to bring (and wear) these items to Graduation, if you choose!
Tassels should be worn on the right for Associates and Bachelor degree programs. Masters and Doctoral degree students should wear their tassels on the left. For undergraduate degrees students move their tassel from right to left after receiving their diploma. Master’s and doctoral graduates will keep their tassels on the left. Students receiving an Associate, Bachelor, or, Master degree will receive a blue/gold tassel when picking up your cap and gown. Students receiving a doctoral degree will receive a colored tassel by discipline (below).
| Associate’s Degree, Bachelor’s Degree, and Master’s Degree | Blue and Gold |
| Doctoral Degree (All entries shown below are part of the Doctoral Degree) | Color by Discipline |
| - Nursing and Nurse Anesthesia | Apricot |
| - Health Administration | Salmon |
| - Arts and Sciences | Black |
| - Health Professions | Green |
| - Nursing and Nurse Anesthesia | Apricot |
| - Health Administration | Salmon |
| - Arts and Sciences | Black |
| - Physical Therapy | Teal |
| - Nutritional Sciences | Gold |
All graduates completing a Master Degree will be hooded on stage during Graduation. You’ll receive your hood at your Pinning and Awards ceremony. It is your responsibility to bring your hood on Graduation Day.
All graduates completing a Doctoral Degree will be hooded on stage during Graduation. You’ll receive your hood at your Pinning and Awards ceremony. It is your responsibility to bring your hood on Graduation Day.
Male graduates should wear dress shirts with ties, dark dress pants and dark shoes. Female graduates should wear skirts, dresses, or dark pants, and neutral-colored shoes (black, brown, tan, white, etc.). As a reminder, you will be walking across stage (as well as navigating stairs) so our advice is to avoid wearing excessively high heels.
Under no circumstances are embellishments to the gown/cap permitted. You may be dismissed for inappropriate attire. In such instances, your diploma will be mailed to you.Please use the link below to order Graduation announcements through Balfour’s website. A representative from Balfour will also be in attendance at Graduation Prep Day to assist with ordering announcements.
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