Graduate Commencement
1:00 p.m.
Note For International Students
International Graduate Students traveling to the United States to participate in the May 2026 Commencement exercise should reach out to the Graduate Office to get a verification letter. All requests should be forwarded to gradstudiesinfo [at] desu.edu.
important dates for graduate events
| DATE | EVENT | LOCATION |
|---|---|---|
| Immediately | Complete the application for graduation. | Office of Records and Registration |
| Thursday, February 5, 2026 | Countdown to Commencement Town Hall 11 a.m.- 12 p.m. |
Virtual |
| BEFORE February 20, 2026 |
Resolve All Incomplete Grades Please resolve any “Q” grades. |
|
| BEFORE Sunday, March 1, 2026 |
Order Cap and Gown (regalia) BEFORE March 15 deadline Order online at http://colleges.herffjones.com/college/_dsu/ Honor cords will be distributed by the Office of Records and Registration. |
Online Only |
| Tuesday, March 3, 2026 | Countdown to Commencement Town Hall 11 a.m.- 12 p.m. |
Virtual |
| Wednesday, March 11, 2026 | Deadline to apply for Graduate Leadership Excellence Award | |
| March 16- 20, 2026 | GRADUATE PORTRAITS To schedule an appointment please scan the QR code below:  |
Martin Luther King Jr., Student Center (MLKSC) Multi-purpose room |
| Thursday, April 9, 2026 | Countdown to Commencement Town Hall 11 a.m.- 12 p.m. |
DeLauder Theater |
| BEFORE Wednesday, April 15, 2026 |
Satisfy All Financial Obligations All financial obligations to the University must be met. |
|
| BEFORE Wednesday, April 15, 2026 |
Register via Tassel to access guest tickets, pronounce your name, and receive grad pass. Students who are cleared for graduation will receive an email invitation to register for Tassel. |
Online |
| Friday, May 1, 2026 | Reading Day | |
| May 4 - May 8, 2026 | Finals Week | Campus-Wide |
| Friday, May 15, 2026 | LINE UP FOR COMMENCEMENT | 11:30 a.m. Graduates - Report to Longwood Auditorium COMMENCEMENT | 1:00 p.m. |
Bank of America
DeLauder Theater |
| Monday, May 18, 2026 | Residence Halls Close: All graduates must vacate completely by Monday, May 18, 2026 by 1:00 p.m. Graduates requesting to extend their stay in residence halls should email housing [at] desu.edu two weeks prior to graduation requesting an extension | All Residence Halls |
ACCESS To Tassel
Prospective graduates who are cleared for graduation will receive an email to your DSU email address with a link to register for your respective Commencement ceremony through the Tassel site. Please click the link and establish a password. Emails will be sent beginning February 15, 2026.
TICKETING INFORMATION
Graduate students participating in the Commencement ceremony will receive 2 guest tickets for entry into the DeLauder Theater. Tickets will be made available for distribution on May 1, 2026.
This number is based on the legal maximum capacity of the facility, the number of graduating candidates, and the Delaware State University Police Department’s recommendation.
Commencement tickets are not for sale. All guests must present a Guest Admit Ticket for scanning in order to be admitted into a Commencement ceremony regardless of age (this includes infants & children). Remember that anyone can watch the Commencement ceremony on their mobile device or computer with live streaming. The link will be located on Delaware State University’s website. If you have questions, please email hornetcommencement [at] desu.edu.