Checklist for Graduates
Before you graduate, here's what both graduate students and undergraduate seniors need to know and do to prepare for Commencement.
Clear Holds
If you have a hold on your student account, you will not be able to order your full transcripts or receive your diploma.
- Confirm there is no hold on your student account. If there is a hold, contact Student Accounts at studentaccounts@saintmarys.edu to help you understand which office placed the hold on your account.
- You are responsible for resolving the hold. Because there are different types of holds, once you learn which office placed the hold on your account, contact them directly for more information.
Complete Exit Interview
- Students who are graduating May 2025, August 2025, or December 2025 and who have borrowed Federal Direct Student Loans while enrolled at Saint Mary's, are required by the federal government to complete online exit loan counseling before receiving the diploma from Saint Mary's College. Students who need to complete exit loan counseling will see this requirement under the Loan Counseling section of the Student Financial Information Resources page on the portal at https://my.saintmarys.edu/pages/loan-counseling. This online exit counseling can be completed at https://studentaid.gov/exit-counseling/ by logging in with the FSA ID. The online exit loan counseling must be completed no later than Friday, April 25, 2025.
- On campus group counseling sessions are also required for undergraduates. At these sessions you will receive a print out of your loan history and will learn valuable information about your loan repayment options. The dates and times of these mandatory sessions will be available later in the spring semester and will be posted at https://my.saintmarys.edu/pages/loan-counseling.
Name Pronunciation
Register your official name with Tracy White in the Academic Advising Office. Leave a recording of you saying your full name three times if you are concerned any part of your name might be mispronounced. Please call 574-284-5341 no later than May 8.
Graduation Regalia and Bookstore Hours
The Shaheen Bookstore is the regalia resource for Saint Mary's graduates. The regalia package includes your cap, gown, hood, and tassel, and is yours to keep. It cannot be returned. Online ordering is available through March 30. If you do not order by March 30, the bookstore cannot guarantee attire in your size. You can choose to ship it to the bookstore (which includes free shipping) or ship to your home (shipping fees apply). Regalia distribution will occur April 29-May 1, from 9 am-5 pm.
Attend the 2025 Grad Fair on March 18 in Rice Commons (11 am-5:30 pm)!
You will be able to
- Order regalia
- Learn more about Senior Week
- Buy a class ring or have your ring cleaned by Balfour
- Learn about the Alumnae Association
- Explore graduate programs at Saint Mary’s
- Visit with IT and review computing after ResNet
- Contribute to the Class Gift Campaign
- Register your official name with Academic Affairs
- Connect with Career Crossings
- Visit with the Admissions’ S.M.A.R.T. team
- Talk with Dress for Success
- Register to win drawings, including but not limited to 1 VIP Designated Parking Spot, 2 Reserved Front Row Seats, Regalia (cap, gown, hood & tassel), and many more. MUST ATTEND AND VISIT EACH BOOTH TO QUALIFY.
SMC Class Rings, Commencement announcements and More
Purchase a class ring, announcements, and more graduation items at the Balfour website.
Computing After ResNet
Congratulations on your upcoming graduation from Saint Mary’s College! ResNet would like to provide you with some helpful information as you transition from life as a Saint Mary’s student to that of a college graduate.
Our “Computing After ResNet” guide addresses popular questions regarding e-mail accounts, Google Workspace, network drives, Microsoft Campus Agreement software, virus protection software, and how to get technical support after you have left campus.
http://www.saintmarys.edu/resnet/computingafterresnet.html
Here are a few of the important highlights:
- Information Technology has been allowing alumnae to retain their saintmarys.edu student e-mail accounts following graduation. This is an offering Saint Mary’s is currently able to provide to our graduates, but it could change at any time if Google alters its licensing agreement. We will notify members of the Class of 2025 if changes become necessary.
- We recommend that you use Google Takeout to export a copy of your files from Google Drive and Google Photos. The Class of 2025 should be prepared for upcoming changes that will eliminate access to these specific Google Workspace offerings in the future.
- Your Microsoft 365 for Students license (which includes Word, PowerPoint, and Excel) will automatically expire immediately after graduation. At expiration, the software will enter a reduced-functionality mode (files can be viewed but it will not be possible to edit or create new files) and the OneDrive associated with your Saint Mary’s account will no longer be accessible.
- Please take the time to save the files stored on your personal network drive (H:) to your computer’s hard drive, flash drive, or personal cloud storage before you leave campus.
- If you installed the Saint Mary’s College-provided Bitdefender security software on your personal computer, you may continue to use it after graduation.
Career Crossings Office
Reach out as you are navigating your post-Saint Mary’s plans! Career Crossings can assist you with job searching, applying to graduate schools, discerning post-grad service and “gap year” programs, resumes and cover letters, interviewing, and networking with alums. You can also find additional resources on Handshake and the Career Crossings portal site. We are here for you as you make the journey to graduation and beyond…Career Crossings provides LIFETIME services for all grads!
Schedule an appointment with us on Handshake (click Career Center and Appointments to get started).
Alumnae Relations
Staying connected to Saint Mary’s is easy when you are involved with a club, or get together with other Belles in your area! Take a look at our amazing list of Alumnae Clubs and Contacts around the country! If you don’t see something for your area, please email us at alumnae@saintmarys.edu.
Saint Mary’s Alumnae Recruitment Team (SMART)
Your connection to Saint Mary’s doesn’t have to end at Commencement. Are you passionate about sharing the impact of a Saint Mary’s education? The Saint Mary’s Alumnae Recruitment Team (SMART) is a network of over 1,500 alumnae who play an impactful role in assisting prospective students, their parents, and high school counselors through the college decision process. As a SMART member, you’ll help the Office of Admission to welcome the next generation of Saint Mary’s women.
SMART members have the chance to represent Saint Mary’s at college fairs, attend admissions events, adopt a local high school, reach out to prospective students, and more. To indicate your interest in joining the SMART program, simply submit this form. After graduation, we’ll send you more details on how to get involved.
Have Questions?
Contact SMART Coordinator, Georgiana Mejia, at smart@saintmarys.edu.
Hooding Ceremonies
The academic hood is the symbol of admission to the community of scholars. In each of its forms (bachelor, master, doctor) it symbolizes a level of academic achievement and is appropriately worn only by those who have reached that level. It is part of the official regalia (including cap and gown) that all Saint Mary’s students wear at Commencement events.
At Saint Mary's, hoods are formally presented by the department or program in which a student has completed the major program of study during a departmental Hooding Ceremony. At these ceremonies, special departmental awards and other student recognitions are also bestowed.
A schedule for all hooding ceremonies will be posted once it is finalized.
Graduation Stoles and Honor Cords
Approved stoles given by Saint Mary’s organizations are permitted at Commencement Mass, in addition to Saint Mary’s medals and honor cords. For the ceremony, medals, honor cords, and one approved graduation stole may be worn. If you have more than one, you will need to choose which one to wear. Graduates should not decorate their caps.