Navigating Your Recognition Ceremony: FAQs

Yes, regalia is required for all participating in the procession or walking across the stage during the Indiana University School of Social Work (IUSSW) celebration.

Yes, each Labor Studies, BSW, MSW, and PhD social work student will be called individually to walk across the stage and must be in regalia to participate. 

Master of Social Work and PhD in Social Work students will be hooded on stage. 

RSVP is highly appreciated as it helps us track numbers and needs for special accommodations.  It will also help us with space planning next year. No ticket purchase is required for either event. 

We encourage you to attend both the campus-wide ceremony and the School of Social Work Recognition Event. However, neither of the events are required.

The commencement is campus-wide, meaning every school at IUPUI will be represented at the ceremony. However, names are not called, and students do not walk across the stage unless they are Ph.D. students. The perk of attending this ceremony is that you will receive diploma cover for free when you usually need to buy them separately.  The School of Social Work Recognition Celebration is only for the School of Social Work. Due to this, we have more time to recognize the students individually. Your name will be called, and you will have the chance to walk across the stage and shake hands with our interim dean, Jeffry Thigpen. The IU Indianapolis campus encourages students to attend the ceremony and the celebration. 

No, students receiving awards and/or graduating with honors distinction will not be individually recognized at the celebration. Certain distinctions will be indicated in the printed program.     

Please plan for a two-hour program.

No, Phi Alpha members do not wear honor cords to graduation or the recognition celebration. 

There is no limit to the number of guests that can attend the School of Social Work Recognition celebration.