School of Education Commissioning Ceremony

Location: Shaw Chapel
Date & Time: Thursday, May 8, from 3:00–5:00 p.m. ET
Participants: School of Education Master’s and Doctoral graduates, guests, and faculty.

Congratulations! You have made it to graduation! We are excited that you have decided to join us for our Commissioning Service and look forward to meeting your families and friends.

This event will prayerfully commission you to serve the world as a Christian leader in your chosen field. The schedule includes:

• Dean’s welcome
• Greetings from Academic Affairs
• Special Music
• Presentation of Outstanding Student Awards
• Formal reading of graduate names
• Formal hooding of graduates
• Faculty prayer & anointing of graduates
• Professional headshots by Grad Images
• Reception at the Communications Building Plaza from 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

To commission someone is “to entrust or give authority” or “to appoint or assign to a task or function.” Commissioning is a sacred and holy time of worship, consecration, reflection, prayer, and anointing within the context of our graduation.

Children are welcome, but please consider that this is a religious/sacred service that will last about two hours. Strollers and similar equipment are not permitted in the aisles and walkways.

The service will be streamed live on this page at 3:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, May 8.

Commencement (also known as graduation) will be held Saturday, May 10, beginning at 9:15 a.m. ET at the Library Plaza. This ceremony includes all graduates & faculty. Please view https://www.regent.edu/commencement for more information regarding the event.

View the Regent campus map and area hotels.

TBA

Arrival

 Graduates should plan to arrive by 2:00 p.m. and check in at the table in the Prayer Garden located outside of the Divinity building (#7 on the campus map). You can follow the signs to the Divinity building. Graduates should plan to wear gowns and carry their hoods. No caps or tams are needed.

Parking

Graduates and guests should enter Regent University through the Centerville Turnpike entrance and park in Lot L (see campus map). Seating will open for guests at 2:30 p.m. 

Your family and friends are invited to support you during this event, either virtually or in person. You will be required to reserve a spot for your guests. Your guests will check in at the Shaw Chapel.

Commissioning Ceremony Procedure

Graduates should be prepared to arrive at the Prayer Garden by 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 8, 2025. You should follow the signs to the Divinity building. Once you’ve checked in, you will be guided to a designated area outside where you will line up for the ceremony.  Graduates should wear your regalia and bring your hood. Since the School of Education’s Commissioning Ceremony is inside, you will not need your cap or tam. It is important that you do not bring any extra items with you (like your purse). There will not be any place to leave valuables and you will not be able to leave anything at your seat when you are on stage.

You will receive a program for the service when you arrive for the lineup and there will be programs available after the ceremony for you to take home.

The procedure is as follows:

• Staff will direct you to the check-in table, where you will be given a card that will already have your name printed on it. Please write on the card how you want your name to be read.
• You will then be directed to a volunteer to assist you with where to line up outside of the Divinity building.
• The processional, led by faculty, will begin promptly at 3:00 p.m. An usher will guide you to your seat.
• You will have designated seats on the front right section.
• An usher will lead you out of your row to process onto the stage for hooding.
• When you approach the podium, give your name card to the reader.
• When your name is called, proceed toward the center stage, where you will be hooded. You will be directed how to hold your hood. A professor will place the hood around your neck.
• An usher will guide you to the Grad Images area where your individual headshot will be taken.
• After your photo is taken, you will be guided to a prayer station where faculty will pray over and anoint you.
• Once the prayer is over, you will return to the nearest empty seat. You may or may not go back to where you were initially seated. That is OK! Please be sure not to bring anything with you.
• At the end of the ceremony, your guests will be excused, and you will remain in the chapel for a formal group photo of the graduating class of 2025!

PROPER ATTIRE (UNDER REGALIA)

As this is a special occasion and you will be standing on stage, men should wear dress pants. Women should wear dress pants, a skirt or a dress. All graduates should wear dress shoes (heels or flats). Please do not wear jeans, tennis shoes or flip-flops. Females are not to bring handbags. *Do not bring a purse or drink as you cannot take on stage, and you will not return to your original seat*.

This event is not ticketed but when you RSVP, we ask that you indicate the number of guests that will be attending. Seating is first come, first served. Overflow seating will be available in the Dede Robertson Theatre.

Contact Tashika Mangus at tashman@regent.edu for questions about the School of Education Commissioning Ceremony.