Graduation FAQs

Tulane University School of Medicine Class of 2025 Diploma Ceremony

Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 12:00 p.m.


New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, The Great Hall

Keynote Speaker:
Alexis Thompson MD, MPH

 

T4 Activity FAQ: 


What: Ivy day
When: May 16th Reception @2:00 pm, Ceremony @3:00 pm  
Where: Hutch lobby and auditorium  
What should I/my guests wear? Semi-formal
Are there tickets? There are no tickets for this event, but guests are limited to award recipients in the class of 2024; Ivy Day recipients will be notified in early May if they’ve received an award of any kind. 
How many? There is no limit to Ivy Day guests, but please be courteous of your peers' guests and not exceed 10.
What do I do if I’m not attending? Student Affairs will keep your awards and have them available for your pickup the following Monday. If you leave town before collecting your awards, please contact SOMevents@tulane.edu and arrange to have them mailed to a location of your choice.
Will there be food/drinks? There will be a small reception at 2:00 pm in the lobby of Hutch consisting of light refreshments.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What: Tulane School of Medicine Diploma Ceremony
When: May 17th @12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Where: Morial Convention Center – The Great Hall (1st Floor)
What should I/my guests wear? Students must wear regalia to participate in the ceremony. Dress semi-formal with your regalia. Please note: graduation is in May which is the beginning of summer in New Orleans, it will be very warm. Dress comfortably (share this with your guests)!!! 
Are there tickets? How many? No – Guests for students are unlimited.
Is there anything I need to do to attend graduation? Yes – Please visit the Student Affairs website to order your regalia, complete the Special Hooder form (opens 1/6/25, closes 4/18/25), and complete the Graduation Checklist.  If you have honor cords, pick them up from the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs anytime Monday-Friday, 8:00 - 4:00 pm. If you plan to retrieve your honors cords in the robing room at graduation, you must arrive early! 
What do I do if I’m not attending? Please notify Kim Melerine in the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs that you will not be attending graduation. Your diploma and composite can be mailed to the location of your choice.  
Will there be food/drinks? There will not be any subsequent receptions for commencement.  
Is Unified Commencement mandatory? No – however, the university does a splendid job of honoring students’ hard work and achievements with phenomenal guest speakers. Though not mandatory, you are encouraged to attend with your guests for a full Tulane Commencement experience. 

 

BEFORE THE CEREMONY

Honor cords will be available for pickup from Student Affairs starting on May 5th, anytime between 8:00 am - 4:00 pm. You may be able to collect honor cords at the ceremony in the student robing room if you do not get a chance to collect them before then.
 
If you submitted a Special Hooder Form after the deadline of April 18th, your entry was not included in the final list for the seating chart and you will be hooded by the class sponsor, Dr. LeDoux. 

 

DAY OF COMMENCEMENT

  • Graduates are to report to the Great Hall inside of New Orleans Convention Center (there will be signs and staff/volunteers to guide you). Enter through the door facing the pre-event space to easily find the room designated for you. We are asking graduates to arrive at 11:15 am and no later than 11:45 am. 
  • Parents, guests, etc. will not be allowed in the graduate-robing room at ANY time. They will need to go take their seats as we get ready for the ceremony.
  • If you arrive after the procession has begun and we have entered the Great Hall, you will not be able to take your seat until after everyone is seated and the ceremony begins: please be sure to be on time.
  • We will only be in this room before the ceremony to line up, please refrain from leaving personal items as you will not be able to return to retrieve them. Student Affairs will not be responsible for any lost or stolen items left in any robing areas once we exit. Please make sure to give any additional items you may be carrying to your guests ahead of the ceremony.
  • Graduates will not be allowed in the hooder-robing room at any time. Your Special Hooders have been contacted separately with instructions regarding the ceremony.
  • NO FOOD OR DRINKS WILL BE ALLOWED IN THE THEATER. We will have water stations available in all robing areas, but please tell your guests not to bring food or drink into the theater. If your guests have refillable bottles that have lids or caps then that should be fine, but please encourage your guests to dispose of all trash in the garbage bins available.

 

DURING THE CEREMONY

  • Each graduate will be paired with their special hooder at the line-up during diploma distribution. PLEASE CARRY YOUR HOOD AS YOU APPROACH THE STAGE. You may give your hood to your hooder ahead of walking on stage for ease of hooding.
  • Staff will be placed on either side of the rows to guide you, we know this is a very exciting time and you're all very proud, but please pay attention as your rows are being called to the front!
  • There will be several professional photographers at the ceremony; please refrain from breaking the line to offer your guests photo opportunities.
  • After the ceremony, please stay in your seat until it is time to exit your row and please stay in line until you have exited the theater.
  • Please also refrain from leaving anything behind in the ballroom. Immediately following the last guest, the Convention Center staff begins to break down the room. Student Affairs will not be responsible for any lost or stolen items left in the ballroom upon the conclusion of commencement.
  • If you need ADA accommodations for your guests, please contact Sherrill Calvit (sharrel@tulane.edu) or Erica Dorsey (edorsey5@tulane.edu).

 

AFTER THE CEREMONY

NOTE: After commencement, the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs will forward your file to the Office of Graduate Medical Education.

For information about diploma copies, contact Graduate Medical Education at (504) 988-5464

Any information needed from your file will be sent through the Office of Graduate Medical Education. Information regarding credentialing can be found here.


For questions, please e-mail SOMevents@tulane.edu