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Home ― Commencement ― Commencement Schedule

Commencement Schedule

Dakota State Commencement Ceremony for Spring 2025 and Summer 2025 graduates is scheduled for Saturday, May 10. The commencement ceremonies will be held at the Dakota State Fieldhouse.

Friday, May 9

DSU graduates taking part in commencement
Dakota State University commencement.

Rehearsal

A commencement rehearsal will be held on Friday, May 9, at 4:15 p.m. at the DSU Fieldhouse. You are encouraged to attend this practice session, so you will be familiar with:

  • the location where graduates meet,
  • the line of march,
  • and the procedures for the ceremony.

For the benefit of our master's and doctoral graduates, we will also quickly walk through the hooding procedure.

Graduate Reception

  • After rehearsal, you and your guests are invited to a graduate reception at the Trojan Zone to celebrate your accomplishments!
  • We will be open extended hours on Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with the graduate reception taking place from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 10

Hooding Ceremony

The Hooding Ceremony will begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. at the Dakota Prairie Playhouse. Doors will open at 8 a.m. to allow guests to be seated. No tickets are needed for this ceremony.

All master's and doctoral graduates should arrive in their regalia by 8:15 a.m. and go directly to the conference room area to line up.

Dakota Prairie Playhouse
1205 Washington Ave N
Madison, SD 57042

Commencement Ceremony

The Commencement Ceremony will begin promptly at 10:30 a.m., and the Fieldhouse doors will open at 9 a.m. to allow guests to be seated.

All graduates, master's and doctoral graduates should arrive by 9:45 a.m. at the Madison Community Center double gym dressed in regalia.

Fieldhouse
1302 Washington Ave. N
Madison, SD 57042

graduation@dsu.edu

Seating, tickets & special accommodations

Tickets are required for general admission bleacher seating for the Spring Commencement.

For family and friends who are unable to sit in bleacher-style seating, we can make special accommodations upon request. Specific tickets will be required for the limited amount of floor seating. To request floor seating or to notify us of special needs (wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, canes, vision, or hearing impairment, etc.), please contact our events staff or call (605)256-5666.

Congratulations graduates! Proud members of the DSU Alumni Association, and Trojan's for life. This lapel pin signifies your journey at Dakota State University. Wear it with pride!

Congratulations graduates! Proud members of the DSU Alumni Association, and Trojans for life. This lapel pin signifies your journey at Dakota State University. Wear it with pride!