Graduating Students
The following information is tentative but provides an overview for commencement weekend. Family and friends are invited to all events.
Commencement
Scheduled Saturday, May 10, 2025,
at 9:30 a.m. in the Bowl
Hooding Ceremony
Else School of Management graduate students Friday, May 9, 2025, at 3 p.m.
* Yates Chapel Reception to follow in Christian Center Room 120
Baccalaureate
Friday, May 9, 2025, at 6 p.m. at Galloway United Methodist Church
Livestream
Events will be live-streamed on the Millsaps College Facebook page and YouTube channel
Attention Upcoming Graduates
Please read through everything to make sure you’re ready for graduation!
June-August 2024
Undergraduate Degree Audit Review
For undergraduate students who are approaching graduation, you will receive your virtual core/major/degree audit from the Office of Records. You should also complete the graduation application in Major Portal as soon as possible.
Graduate Student Graduation Review
For graduate students who are approaching graduation, meet with the Else School’s Director of Administration Naomi Freeman to ensure you have all the classes you need to graduate. Graduate students must also complete the graduate application in Major Portal.
February 2025
Graduation Announcement/Invitation Orders
Order your graduation announcements/invitations and diploma frames here.
Purchase a class ring, if you wish.
Also, consider the purchase of gifts and Millsaps-apparel items from the bookstore.
Academic Regalia (cap & gown)
Order your cap and gown regalia from Graduate Supply House Inc. Order early with a final deadline of April 9, 2025.
March 2025
Minor Declaration
If you intend to earn a minor to go along with your degree and major, you must have declared it with the Office of Records by March 1.
Academic Hoods
M.Acc. and MBA degree candidates or undergraduate degree students completing the Honors Program may wish to purchase academic hoods. The cost of a hood is $125. Contact the Office of Records by March 1 to order your hood, and make payment to the Business Office by May 1.
Graduation Distinction Stoles
A student whose cumulative GPA is 3.500 for the entire course of study at Millsaps shall be graduated cum laude, one whose cumulative GPA is 3.700 shall be graduated magna cum laude, and one whose cumulative GPA is 3.900 shall be graduated summa cum laude. To be eligible for graduation cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude, a student must have earned at least 64 semester hours at Millsaps College.
If you are graduating with one of the distinctions above, Millsaps will rent a stole for you for the commencement ceremony. If you would like to keep it, the fee is $25. Please complete the form here.
If you do not wish to keep it, please return it after Commencement to the lobby of the Academic Complex by 11:45 am.
April 2025
Federal Loan Mandatory Exit Counseling
If you are a federal Direct Loan student borrower, be sure to complete mandatory exit counseling for those loans. The Office of Financial Aid will be contacting you by email to provide instructions for completing the federally required loan exit counseling online. Federal Direct Loans are separate loan programs. You must complete online exit counseling for all federal loans. To complete your exit counseling, visit the FSA website to begin.
Book Your Hotel
A block of hotel rooms has been reserved at the Hilton Homewood Suites. Click here to recieve the Millsaps rate.
Laney Awards Submissions
For undergraduates, the Writing Center invites submissions of “Senior Writing Reflection on the Millsaps Experience” essays for consideration for this year’s Laney Award. This is one of three awards presented at Commencement. Contact the Writing Center for information on how to submit your essay.
May 2025
Cap & Gown Pickup
Students may pick up their caps and gowns from the bookstore from Wednesday, May 7, to Friday, May 9, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Last Hurrah
Attend The Last Hurrah on Thursday evening, May 8, 2025. This event is your welcome into the Alumni Association! It will be held from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Hal & Mal’s. All attendees MUST ride the shuttle to the event. Pickup begins in Whitworth Circle at 6:30 p.m. Wear festive attire, and don’t miss celebrating with your friends! Questions? Call Student Life at 601-974-1200.
Graduation Rehearsal
Attend graduation rehearsal Friday, May 9, at 1:30 p.m. The rehearsal is mandatory for all degree candidates (both undergraduate and graduate). We will meet in the Recital Hall in the Gertrude C. Ford Academic Complex. Please enter from the second floor lobby.
At rehearsal, be sure to fill out the virtual graduate information sheet for the Alumni Office so we can keep up to date with you as an alum. You will want to bring a phone or laptop on which you can complete this survey.
Baccalaureate Service
Attend the baccalaureate service on Friday, May 9, 2025. The service begins at 6 p.m. at Galloway United Methodist Church, located at 305 North Congress Street in downtown Jackson. You will meet in the church gathering area and line up on the mezzanine level. Academic attire (caps and gowns) is required. This special service of song and prayer is rooted in the United Methodist tradition, but is inclusive and welcoming of all faiths. Families are welcome!
What to Wear
Please consider what you want to wear to commencement. Proper commencement attire includes cap and gown. It is recommended that you wear comfortable clothing underneath the gown as commencement exercises are scheduled for the Bowl and it can get warm. Dark, comfortable, closed-toe shoes are also recommended, as higher heels can be challenging on the grass. Caps should be worn at all times, but may be removed as indicated by the actions of college administration.
Commencement
Commencement is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 10, 2025, in the Bowl. Graduating students should meet in the lobby of the Academic Complex at 8:30 a.m. Caps and gowns are required.
In case of rain, the ceremony will be held at Christ United Church at 6000 Old Canton Road in northeast Jackson. Please note that if commencement exercises are moved to Christ United Church, the start time will be moved back one hour to 10:30 a.m.
Parking & Directions
- Gates will open at 7:00 a.m.
- Whitworth Circle parking is reserved for VIP and ADA guests.
- Parking under the Academic Complex is reserved for faculty, staff and students.
- General parking is available in all other lots.
- Additional ADA parking is available in front of the Hall Activities Center accessible through the North Gate off of N. State St.
Directions: From I-55, take Woodrow Wilson Drive, Exit 98A, to second light, turn left on North State Street. Millsaps College is on the right.
Entrances are at: North Security Gate at traffic light at Riverside Drive; Whitworth Circle at traffic light at Oakwood Street; Park Avenue; South Security Gate at Webster Street.
Gown Return and Diploma Pick-Up
After commencement, please return your gowns to the lobby of the Academic Complex by 11:45 am; you can keep your cap! At this time, please also pick up your diploma. Diploma covers are handed out on stage, but the diploma itself is given out after the ceremony.
Millsaps Gifts & Bookstore Hours
If you would like to purchase any Millsaps gifts, accessories or apparel, the bookstore is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the day of commencement (except during the ceremony). You can also order online later.
Campus Housing Closures
Residence halls and fraternity houses will close Saturday, May 10, at 5 p.m. In addition, your Millsaps ID card will no longer work several days after the term ends.
Mail Forwarding
Official Transcripts
Order any official transcripts you may need to submit to graduate school or your new employer through the Office of Records. Please allow several business days for processing after Commencement.
Graduation Photos
After you have left campus and are settled, don’t forget to order photos from commencement. Information from the photographer will be sent to your email and home address.
June-September 2025
School Email Termination
Information Technology Services (ITS) will disable and delete your @millsaps.edu email address early in the fall semester after you have graduated. If you plan on attending graduate school at Millsaps College, please let ITS know by emailing [email protected] so they do not disable/delete your account.
If you are not continuing your education at Millsaps, be sure to clean out your email and start letting your contacts know of your new (non-Millsaps) email address before its disabling.
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