Commencement 2025

Navigating Graduation

Graduating with Honors

Graduates receiving a bachelor’s degree wit ha cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or greater, and have earned at least 45 credit hours at Bethel, will be awarded the following academic distinction:

• Cum Laude – GPA of 3.5
• Magna Cume Laude – GPA of 3.75
• Summa Cume Laude – GPA of 3.9

Tickets

The Saturday, May 3, 2025, commencement ceremony is a ticketed event. Tickets will be required to attend the ceremony. Each graduate will be given 6 guest tickets. No additional tickets will be available due to venue capacity.

Tickets for the Commencement Ceremony are available to be picked up in the Campus Store.

The ceremony will be live-streamed on our main page for those unable to attend in person. Guests may also view the ceremony from Sufficient Grounds and the Campus Store.

Seating

General Seating

We suggest guests arrive about 1 hour prior to the ceremony start time when doors will be open. Ushers can assist with moving chairs for wheelchairs, walkers, etc.

Special arrangements needed?

Please contact Kelly Amstutz at Kelly.Amstutz@BethelUniversity.edu if there is an injury or disability that will require special accomodations at commencement.

On-Campus Streaming

Seating is also available in Sufficient Grounds Coffee House and Campus Store, where the ceremony will be shown via livestream.

Seating Questions

Please contact Kelly Amstutz with specific questions via email at Kelly.Amstutz@BethelUniversity.edu or by calling 574.807.7190.

Rehearsal

Rehearsal will begin one hour before the ceremony the day of commencement in the Everest-Rohrer Auditorium. Students must be there promptly to prepare for the ceremony. This year there is only one ceremony for all Traditional, Adult and Graduate Studies graduates.

• May 3 Nurse Pinning:
  Rehearsal begins at 9:30 a.m. with the Ceremony at 10 a.m.
  Those with speaking or singing parts are asked to arrive by 8 a.m. for a sound check.
• May 3 Commencement:
  Rehearsal begins at 1 p.m. with the Ceremony at 2 p.m.

In the event of bad weather, rehearsal will be in Goodman Gymnasium. Signs will be posted directing graduates to Goodman, if necessary.

Nurse Pinning

Event Details

The Nurse Pinning service will be on Saturday, May 3, 2024, at 10 a.m., in the Everest-Rohrer auditorium.

Nurse Pinning Rehearsal

There will be a mandatory rehearsal for pinning at 9:30 a.m., in the Everest-Rohrer auditorium. Those with speaking or singing parts are asked to arrive by 9 a.m. for a sound check.

Guests

There is no limit to the number of guests that may attend the pinning ceremony for each graduate. The pinning program will also be livestreamed.

Questions about Nursing Pinning

If you have questions, feel free to contact Jill Lyon (Jill.Lyon@BethelUniversity.edu) or Tina Kendall (Tina.Kendall@BethelUniversity.edu).

Campus Store Hours

The Campus Store will be open starting at 9:30 a.m. on the day of Commencement. The store will have an extensive inventory of Bethel apparel as well as very attractive diploma frames with mat.

More Details

Additional Questions?

If you have other questions about our commencement ceremony or other graduation events, please contact Kelly Amstutz at Kelly.Amstutz@BethelUniversity.edu.