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Convocation 2026

The School of Education and Social Policy (SESP) Community will gather to celebrate the accomplishments of our 2026 undergraduate, masters, and PhD graduates at SESP’s Convocation on Monday, June 15.

This website contains critical information for our graduates and their guests. Bookmark it for easy access.

Convocation Details

Date: Monday, June 15, 2026

Time: 2:30-4:30 p.m.

Location: Convocation will take place in Ryan Fieldhouse. A reception with light appetizers and
beverages will follow.

Convocation Schedule

  • Friday, June 12, 12:30pm – 1:30pm

    SLI Senior Celebration

    Location: Luna's Pub and Grill

  • Friday, June 12, 1:30pm – 2:30pm

    SESP Senior Toast

    Location: Luna's Pub and Grill

  • Monday, June 15, 1:30pm – 2:30pm

    Doors Open (guests must have a ticket)

    Check-In Times

    • 1:30pm - 1:45pm: Master's / PhD
    • 1:30pm - 1:45pm: Faculty
    • 1:45pm - 2pm: Undergraduates

  • Monday, June 15, 2:30pm – 4:30pm

    Convocation Ceremony

  • Monday, June 15, 4:30pm – 5:30pm

    Reception With Light Treats

    Location: Kemper Lawn

Know Before You Go

 

Graduation Weekend is this weekend - here is a list of action items for you as we get close to our celebrations.

SESP Convocation Logistics

  • SESP Convocation is at Ryan Fieldhouse, which is on campus, adjacent to the North Parking Garage.

  • Doors to Ryan Fieldhouse will open at 1:30 pm. We ask that all doctoral and master's graduates are checked in by 1:45 pm and all undergraduate graduates are checked in by 2 pm. Convocation will start at 2:30 pm.

  • You must wear regalia to participate in the ceremony.

  • Graduates, after entering the Fieldhouse will proceed to the West Concourse for check-in. You'll take the elevator or stairs up to the first floor and proceed down the long hallway adjacent to the main Fieldhouse to the check-in area.

  • The processional into the Fieldhouse is organized by degree program, and then by concentration for undergraduate grads. You can be in any order within your program/concentration.

  • Doctoral students will line up with the faculty and stage party. Jigbie Aguirre will make sure that you know where to be!

  • Wear comfortable shoes. You are going to be walking and standing for long periods of time.

  • Our ceremony will be immediately followed by a reception in the large tent on the Kemper Hall East Lawn, across Campus Drive from the Fieldhouse. Please tell your guests to meet you at the reception – not within the Fieldhouse – to ensure a smooth recession. We hope that you and your guests can join us!

Distribute Your Tickets by Friday, June 12

  • Log into the ticket system and distribute your tickets to your guests’ email or mobile devices (US and Canadian numbers only). For ticket transfer instructions please see the graphic on the tickets page of the graduation weekend website.

  • To find your tickets, log into the ticket system, locate your name in the upper right corner, and choose YOUR ORDERS.

  • Keep a spreadsheet or list of which tickets you send to whom. We recommend documenting four fields: Order ID, Ticket Number, Name, and phone number or email sent to.

  • If parties are entering together, one person can hold the tickets for the group. This is handy for guests without smartphones or who are not adept smartphone users.

  • Your identifying information is on the tickets you distribute. Tickets are intended for your personal guests and you are responsible for your guests. As a reminder, selling tickets is strictly prohibited.

Plan Your Where, When, and How

  • Download Guidebook, the Graduation Weekend information app, and make your schedule of the events you plan to attend. The app has ceremonies, celebrations, receptions, maps, parking and Welsh-Ryan shuttle information (but remember, SESP Convocation is on campus, at Ryan Fieldhouse – NOT at the arena off campus), reminders, and other helpful resources.

  • Discuss transportation with your guests. Use Guidebook to help determine where you will park or pick up an on-campus shuttle. The closest parking option to Ryan Fieldhouse is the North Parking Garage.

Additional planning

  • If you have guests with accessibility needs, visit the Accessibility page for answers to common questions. For those relatives who cannot join the festivities, send them the livestream link for SESP Convocation on the Graduation website.

  • Pre-register with Dynamic Photo Systems so you can view your stage crossing photos when they are available.

  • Travel lightly. Leave big bags and oversized purses at home, as well as items prohibited in our campus venues. All guests will pass through magnetometers upon entry to the ceremonies, and all bags will be checked.

  • Make sure you have all your regalia pieces. If you have misplaced anything, individual pieces can be purchased from the Norris bookstore.

  • If you have other questions, check out the Graduation Weekend FAQ page.

Convocation Speaker

A professionally dressed man in a navy suit and striped tie stands indoors, facing the camera with a neutral expression. The background is softly blurred, showing a modern interior with warm lighting and architectural curves, suggesting a corporate or hospitality setting.

Entrepreneur and alumnus Jamie Sahara, one of the world’s sharpest thinkers in insurance and risk management, will deliver the 2026 convocation address for Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy. Read more about Jamie.

Questions: Whom to Contact?

Leading up to Convocation, graduates will receive additional emails from the SESP Convocation Planning Committee and their individual programs. Graduates who read all messages and take timely action as needed have a more enjoyable and less stressful Convocation experience than graduates who do not pay attention.

If you have questions about SESP Convocation, contact:

Life After Northwestern: Helpful Tips

Degree Conferral Date

While University Commencement is June 14 and SESP Convocations is June 15, your degree deferral dates vary:

  • Fall ’25 Graduates: December 19, 2025
  • Winter ’26 Graduates: March 27, 2026
  • Spring ’26 Graduates: June 22, 2026
  • Summer ’26 Graduates: September 4, 2026 (the name of Summer graduates will appear in the 2027 SESP Convocation Program and University Commencement Bulletin)

Transcripts

Northwestern issues both paper and secure electronic transcripts. The procedures for ordering transcripts can be found on the Office of the Registrar website (Transcripts).

You may wish to verify that your degree has been posted before ordering a transcript by logging in to CAESAR to view your unofficial transcript. We recommend that you do this within a week of the degree conferral date (see above), before you lose access to CAESAR.

Diplomas

When you graduate, your SESP program will order your diploma for you. Your diploma will be mailed to you at the address listed in CAESAR (at the time of the mailing). Before SESP Convocation, be sure to login to CAESAR to ensure your correct address listed. When your diploma is ready to be shipped (about 3-4 weeks after your degree is posted), you will receive an email with tracking information. You may learn more about your diploma on the Office of the Registrar website (Diplomas).

Certified Electronic Credentials

Northwestern University offers Certified Electronic Diplomas and Certificates (CeDiploma/CeCertificate). When your paper diploma is ready to be mailed (3-4 weeks after degree posting) you will receive an email with information about ordering a CeDiploma. You can learn more about how these credentials work on the Office of the Registrar website (Electronic Credentials).

Post Graduation Email and Access to Google Suite

Before your NetID is deactivated, you will receive an email from the University explaining your options. More information can be found here. It is important to note that you will not retain access to you’re the full suite of tools (via your @u.northwestern) that you have as a student. Thus, we recommend that you save @u.northwestern.edu documents, papers, records, etc.