2025
Commencement
Take thunderous footsteps.
“Commencement ceremonies are one of life’s special moments—a time to reflect on years of hard work and a time to look forward to your future as a new degree holder. When you don your cap and gown, be proud of yourself, be thankful toward others, and take thunderous footsteps into the world with the knowledge you have gained during your years at Purdue University Fort Wayne.”
—Chancellor Ronald L. Elsenbaumer
2025 Commencement
The big day is
A few weeks away
May 14 | 4 p.m.
Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
Please direct ceremony questions to [email protected] and diploma questions to [email protected].
Commencement Checklist
Find everything you need to prepare for your walk across the stage.
Apply to Graduate
Don’t be left out.
All potential graduates must apply for graduation. The deadline was on March 31, but you may still apply. (Please note that your name will not be included in the commencement program.) The graduation application is located on the Student Common Dashboard in your goPFW portal.
Register for Commencement
How many guests will join you?
You will need to register for yourself and the friends and family who will be joining you. Tickets are not required, and there is no limit to the number of family and guests who may attend.
ORDER CAPS, GOWNS, AND MORE
Be sure that you’re dressed properly for the occasion.
Herff Jones manages all orders for commencement regalia. Kente stoles and international stoles are available as well. The last day for orders was on Friday, April 25.
Your cap and gown order will be shipped directly to the address that you entered at the time of your order. You will also receive a return shipping label. It will take two to three weeks to deliver your order.
LIVE STREAM
Join the ceremony from wherever you are.
If you are unable to attend, you can still take part in all the excitement because we will be live streaming the ceremony. Check back here on the day of commencement for a
live-stream link.
diploma
Your diploma will be mailed to you.
After your degree is verified by the Office of the Registrar, your diploma will be mailed to the primary address listed on your goPFW account. Please check that the address is correct, as incorrect addresses and late address changes could cause a delay in the receipt of your diploma.
The Office of the Registrar is responsible for diplomas, diploma distribution, and degree verification for employers.
PHOTO INFORMATION
Access your photos with a few clicks.
GradImages is proud to support one of the biggest moments in a graduate’s life: walking across the commencement stage and picking up their diploma. With over 40 years of experience, they understand the importance of this occasion and the desire to preserve these memories for a lifetime. That’s why finding your photos is easy. All you have to do is click the button below to view and purchase custom photo products like prints, plaques, specialty gifts, and more.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your photos, please contact the GradImages customer service department at 800-261-2576 or [email protected].
Ceremonial Mace
Tradition meets artistry.
Dating back to medieval times, maces have a long tradition of ushering in formal, ceremonial events. Carried by the university marshal, and only present when the chancellor is in attendance, the mace signifies that the proceedings have official sanction. The Purdue University Fort Wayne mace is used solely during commencement ceremonies and university convocations.
In 2020, Robert F. Schroeder, artist and limited-term lecturer, in collaboration with Dana A. Goodman, professor emeritus, designed and crafted the first official Purdue Fort Wayne mace. Through meticulous carvings and metalwork, thoughtful materials, and careful placement, the mace tells intricate stories of our university’s founding.
Senior Send-off
Let’s celebrate!
In lieu of the traditional commencement after-party, the Office of Development and Alumni Engagement will be hosting a senior send-off party on the day before the big ceremony:
Tuesday, May 13
Steel Dynamics Keith E. Busse Mastodon Alumni Center
11 a.m.–2 p.m.
Graduating students can come enjoy food, drinks, photo ops, lawn games, cap decorating, postgraduation resources, and a senior gift.