Go forth and set the world on fire
We are not able to gather in person this summer as we had planned, but we will gather in the spirit of Loyola University Chicago to celebrate your accomplishments.
Saturday, August 8
Virtual Commencement - 3:00 p.m. Central
University Ceremony
Including remarks by Jo Ann Rooney, JD, LLM, EdD, President; Norberto Grzywacz, PhD, Provost; Sr. Jean Dolores Schmidt, BVM; and keynote speaker Sr. Norma Pimentel, M.J. (MA ’95), Executive Director for Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley.
School Ceremonies
Including remarks by the dean, student speaker, and a recognition of all graduates individually by name. The school ceremonies immediately follow the University ceremony.
Celebration package
Grads, these packages are mailing soon. Here's a sneak peek from inside the box--a familiar face to wish you well! We look forward to toasting with you soon, and try not to spoil the surprise--keep the package sealed until told to reveal!
A Message from President Rooney
Dear Class of 2020,
Congratulations to each of you, members of our Sesquicentennial Class!
In this, our 150th year as Chicago's Jesuit, Catholic university, we are called to lead, to serve and to act. We are called to meet the challenges of our times—especially now—with hope, creativity, humility, tenacity and love. Beginning with your first days as a Loyola Chicago student and throughout the historic spring of 2020, you have continued to inspire us with your achievements and resilience in the face of great changes. We are looking forward to celebrating your graduation.
We invite you and your family members and friends to come together with us in a vibrant, virtual celebration as you go forth into the world as Jesuit-educated leaders and Rambler alumni.
Sincerely,
Jo Ann Rooney, JD, LLM, EdD
President
Prepare for Commencement
Save the date
Invite your family and friends to watch, too. No registration is necessary. All the ceremonies will be available online afterward, so you can watch–or re-watch–the ceremonies at your convenience.
Unwrap your regalia
In July, preordered regalia will be shipped to your permanent U.S. address on file with the University. You can still order regalia.
Watch for a Celebration Package
But do not open the box until the Virtual Commencement when we will open the package together.
Use the Commencement hashtag
Use #GoForthLUC on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to join the conversation about Commencement.
Notes from the Community
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the Virtual Commencement 2020 be held?
The Virtual Commencement will be held Saturday, August 8. The University ceremony begins at 3:00 p.m. Central, and school ceremonies begin immediately following.
What will happen during the Virtual Commencement?
The University ceremony will include remarks by Jo Ann Rooney, JD, LLM, EdD, President; Norberto Grzywacz, PhD, Provost; Sr. Jean Dolores Schmidt, BVM; and keynote speaker Sr. Norma Pimentel, M.J. (MA ’95), Executive Director for Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, as well as a degree acknowledgment. We also invite all graduates to open their Celebration Package together with us during the ceremony. The school ceremonies, which will be available immediately after the University ceremony, will feature remarks by the dean and student speaker, as well as a recognition of all graduates individually by name.
What’s in the Celebration Package?
The package includes several keepsakes from Loyola University Chicago, including a fragile item. It will be mailed to your permanent address on file with the University. Please update your address in LOCUS by July 1. Please don’t open the package until the Virtual Ceremony when we will open the packages. International shipments will take longer. Please contact commencement@LUC.edu if you have questions regarding your address on file or if you do not receive a package by early August.
What if I can’t attend the Virtual Commencement on August 8?
All the ceremonies will be available online afterward, so you can watch – or re-watch – the ceremonies at your convenience. The videos will be posted to LUC.edu/Commencement.
When will I receive my cap and gown?
If you preordered a cap and gown, you should receive them in late July or early August. Regalia ordered through Jostens will be shipped to the permanent address on file with the University. Any address changes for Jostens needed to have been submitted by the deadline of May 29. Regalia ordered through the bookstore will be delivered to homes by July 29 if orders are placed between July 6 and July 17. If you’d like to order regalia, please see the separate FAQ named “Can I still order a cap and gown for the Virtual Ceremony?”Pre Order or Rental through Jostens
Bookstore
Caps and gowns will not be available for pick up.
What about my honor cords?
If you are eligible for individual school honor cords, those will be mailed to the address on file with the University.
Can I still order a cap and gown for the Virtual Ceremony?
Graduating students in Bachelor’s, Master’s, Specialist’s, and Non-Law Certificate programs who did not pre-order their regalia can order through the Loyola Bookstore to have their cap and gown shipped. To order and ship your regalia, please visit loyolachishop.com or call 773.508.7350 between July 6 and 17. Students will be charged based on the shipping speed they select: Ground (7-10 business days): $7.50; 2nd Day Air: $13.50; Next Day Air: $18.00. International students will be charged for international rates and all applicable taxes and fees. Graduating students in other programs have been contacted by their specific schools and will receive regalia to the address provided in late July and early August. Regalia will need to be returned in the pre-labeled return device to Jostens by August 14.Purchased Regalia (Bachelor’s, Master’s, Specialists, and non-Law Certificate programs)
Rental Regalia (Doctoral Students – EdD, PhD, DNP, DBe, and School of Law Students)
How can international students get their regalia?
Unfortunately, Jostens cannot ship internationally. If you pre-ordered your regalia and did not provide an address within the United States before the May 29 deadline, your regalia will be sent directly to the Loyola Bookstore. The Loyola University Bookstore can ship internationally; you will be responsible for all international rates and all applicable taxes and fees. Please call the Loyola Bookstore at 773.508.7350 between July 6 and 17 to coordinate your regalia shipment. If you’d like to order regalia, please see the separate FAQ named “Can I still order a cap and gown for the Virtual Ceremony?”
Can I get a refund on my cap and gown?
If we did not receive a refund request before the deadline of May 29, your regalia will be mailed to the permanent address on file with the University. If you still wish to receive a refund, you will need to send the regalia back to the address provided by Jostens with the regalia in the unopened package. If you submitted a refund request before May 29 and received a confirmation email, your refund is currently being processed. You do not need to submit an additional request. Refunds will take approximately 6 weeks.
How do I submit a photo to be included in my school’s Commencement ceremony?
An email was sent from GradImage the week of June 22. Photo submissions were due by July 1.
Will there be an in-person Commencement celebration?
Yes! We are holding a Virtual Commencement on August 8, 2020. We are planning to hold an in-person celebration in late spring 2021 if conditions allow. We will share more details in the coming months as they become available.
When did I officially receive my degree?
All degrees were conferred in May or June as previously scheduled, and diplomas have been mailed. In other words, graduating students are officially Loyola alumni in May or June.
What about my graduation fee?
The one-time graduation fee accessed to students covers the cost of the diploma and cover, mailing fees, and other expenses associated with graduation. All graduates must pay the fee, regardless of attendance at the ceremony.
Why am I being asked to “pledge to reflect deeply and critically upon the social and environmental impacts…”?
In Spring of 2020, Student Government of Loyola Chicago passed a resolution to invite all students to make a commitment at graduation to bring the social and environmental justice values they engage with during their time at Loyola into their careers and future endeavors. Learn more