Commencement

The graduate Commencement ceremony for the Class of 2021 will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, May 6 under the Commencement tent on the McAuley Hall lawn.

Students who were undergraduates in 2020 and are now graduate candidates in 2021 may choose to attend one or both ceremonies on their scheduled dates. If you are attending Commencement on May 16 in addition to or in place of the May 6 ceremony, please see the information pertaining to events and procedures on that day, as there are some differences.

Commencement regalia: If you already ordered Commencement regalia, it is available for pickup at the Salve Regina bookstore. To see current hours, visit the bookstore website. You may pay for your regalia during pickup or call the bookstore at (401) 847-9086 to pay and arrange shipping. If you still need to order regalia, please visit the bookstore to place an order. If you do not live locally, please call the bookstore for further instructions. Doctoral recipients should email commencement@salve.edu to arrange for their regalia.

Pre-testing and check-in: All graduates are required to provide electronic or paper proof of a negative COVID-19 test administered within 48 hours (2 days) of the ceremony upon check-in at the O’Hare Academic Building. Per Rhode Island guidelines, this requirement applies even if you are fully vaccinated. You should plan to check in at 2 p.m. Students who have not checked in by 2:45 will not be able to process.

Guest policy: Students who have confirmed their participation in the ceremony are allowed a maximum of two guests. Guests do not need to RSVP for the ceremony, as they will be registered in association with the student’s name at check-in.

• Guest check-in will be located near the Commencement tent on the McAuley Hall lawn. Check-in will begin approximately one hour prior to the ceremony at 2 p.m.
• Guests do not need to provide a negative Covid-19 test per state guidelines, however they will be screened at check-in.
• Graduates and their guests will receive wristbands color-coded by ceremony to assist with safety protocols.
• Once guests are checked in, they are free to find a seat in the designated seating area. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Guests must remain masked at all times (even outdoors) and follow social distancing guidelines.
• Guests will not be allowed to leave their seats during the ceremony to take photos or congregate elsewhere. Should a guest need to leave the tent area for personal or emergency matters, they will be escorted by staff to the tent exit.

Undergraduate Commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2021 will be held Sunday, May 9 under the Commencement tent on the McAuley Hall lawn. The times and degrees associated are:

• Nursing recipients: 10 a.m.
• B.A.S. and B.A. recipients: 1 p.m.
• Non-nursing B.S. recipients: 4 p.m.

If you are unsure which degree you are receiving, please see the list of majors associated with each degree.

Commencement regalia: If you have already ordered Commencement regalia, it is now available for pickup at the Salve Regina bookstore. To see current hours, visit the bookstore website. If you still need to order regalia, please visit the bookstore to place an order. The cost of regalia is included in your graduation fee, which is an administrative fee charged regardless of participation in the ceremony.

Celebratory car parade: Join the Senior Challenge committee Saturday, May 8 for a drive through Newport during the Class of 2021 car parade. The car parade will leave from the Young Building at 1 p.m. and advance registration is required. Occupants of each vehicle must be from the same household. Family members are free to gather along the parade route.

Baccalaureate Mass: Mass will be celebrated at 4 p.m. Saturday, May 8 under the Commencement tent on the McAuley Hall lawn. Students who RSVP’d in advance will check in near the entrance to the tent. A maximum of two guests will be allowed. Guests must follow the policies outlined below and be accompanied by their student at check-in prior to Mass. The Mass will also be live-streamed via a link on the Commencement webpage.

COVID-19 testing: Students who have participated in Salve Regina’s mandatory testing program leading up to Commencement do not need to provide additional documentation of a negative COVID-19 test. Students who were remote this semester or who have not participated in Senior Week activities must provide electronic or paper proof of a negative COVID-19 test (rapid or PCR) administered within 48 hours (2 days) of the ceremony upon check-in.

Check-in for students: Check-in will be located at Rodgers Recreation Center. All graduates are required to park in the Rodgers lot to allow for guest parking in other areas. Please plan to arrive at least one hour before your scheduled ceremony start time. Anyone arriving late will risk missing the procession from Rodgers to the Commencement tent.

Check-in and policies for guests: Students who have confirmed their participation are allowed a maximum of two guests at their ceremony. No more than two guests will be permitted under any circumstances, so please do not call University offices to ask how extra tickets may be obtained. There are no tickets being distributed this year due to safety protocols.

• Guest check-in will be located at the Misto Gatehouse, and this will serve as the single point of entry to the Commencement area. Guest check-in will begin approximately one hour prior to their student’s scheduled ceremony.
• Guests do not need to RSVP, as they will be checked in according to their student’s name.
• Guests do not need to provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test per state guidelines, however they will be screened upon check-in.
• Candidates and their guests will receive wristbands color-coded by ceremony to assist with safety protocols.
• Masks must be worn at all times (even outdoors) according to University policy, and all guests are asked to follow the established social distancing guidelines of at least three feet. We are aware of recent guidelines from the CDC and elsewhere regarding masks. However, in order to protect the health and safety of those volunteering during the ceremonies, we are maintaining our current University policies at this time. If you do not wish to wear a mask within the Commencement area, you are free to watch the ceremony virtually from another location.
• Once guests are checked in, they may find a seat in the designated seating area. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Guests will not be allowed to leave their seats during the ceremony to take photos or congregate elsewhere. Should a guest need to leave the tent area for personal or emergency matters, they will be escorted by staff to the tent exit.

Exiting campus: If you are participating in an earlier ceremony, please be sure to exit campus as soon as possible following photographs so that attendees for the later celebrations may enter and check in on time. Campus should be cleared by noon for the 1 p.m. ceremony and by 3 p.m. for the final ceremony at 4 p.m. Families are invited to return to campus around 6 p.m. for any remaining photography or other needs.

The Commencement ceremony for the Class of 2020 will be held at 10 a.m. Sunday, May 16 under the Commencement tent on the McAuley Hall lawn. Students who were undergraduates in 2020 and are now graduate candidates in 2021 may choose to attend one or both ceremonies on their scheduled dates.

Commencement regalia: If you already ordered Commencement regalia and chose to pick it up, your regalia is now available at the Salve Regina bookstore. To see current hours, visit the bookstore website. If you still need to order Commencement regalia, you must purchase it through the bookstore website. You will be asked for height, weight and degree. Please provide one of the following for degree: B.S., B.A., B.A.S., M.S., M.A., MBA or MFA. Doctoral recipients should email commencement@salve.edu to arrange for their regalia.

Baccalaureate Mass: Mass will be celebrated at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 15 in Our Lady of Mercy Chapel. Graduates who RSVP’d in advance will check in near the chapel. A maximum of two guests per graduate will be allowed. Guests must follow the policies outlined below and be accompanied by their graduate at check-in. The Baccalaureate Mass will also be live-streamed via a link on the Commencement webpage.

Senior celebration: The senior celebration will be held from 6-11 p.m. Saturday, May 15. Undergraduates from the Class of 2020 will enjoy a cocktail hour, passed hors d’oeuvres, a sit-down three-course dinner and a DJ for entertainment and music. The event will be formal and students should dress accordingly, however black-tie formal is optional. The deadline to purchase tickets was Friday, April 30.

COVID-19 testing: All members of the Class of 2020 participating in activities on Saturday, May 15 and/or Commencement on Sunday, May 16 are required to provide electronic or paper proof of a negative COVID-19 test administered within 48 hours (2 days) of the event/ceremony upon check in. Rapid or PCR tests will be accepted.

Check-in for graduates: Check-in will be located at the Rodgers Recreation Center. All graduates are required to park in the Rodgers lot to allow for guest parking in other areas. Please plan to arrive by 9 a.m. Anyone arriving past 9:30 a.m. will risk missing the procession from Rodgers to the Commencement tent.

Check-in and policies for guests: Graduates who have confirmed their participation are allowed a maximum of two guests at their ceremony. No more than two guests will be permitted under any circumstances, so please do not call University offices to ask how extra tickets may be obtained. There are no tickets being distributed this year due to safety protocols.

• Guest check-in will be located at the Misto Gatehouse, and this will serve as the single point of entry to the Commencement area. Guest check-in will begin approximately one hour prior to their graduate’s scheduled ceremony.
• Guests do not need to RSVP as they will be checked in according to their graduate’s name.
• Guests do not need to provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test per state guidelines, however they will be screened upon check-in.
• Guests will receive color-coded wristbands to assist with safety protocols.
• Masks must be worn at all times (even outdoors) according to University policy, and all guests are asked to follow the established social distancing guidelines of at least three feet. We are aware of recent guidelines from the CDC and elsewhere regarding masks. However, in order to protect the health and safety of those volunteering during the ceremonies, we are maintaining our current University policies at this time. If you do not wish to wear a mask within the Commencement area, you are free to watch the ceremony virtually from another location.
• Once guests are checked in, they may find a seat in the designated seating area. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Guests will not be allowed to leave their seats during the ceremony to take photos or congregate elsewhere. Should a guest need to leave the tent area for personal or emergency matters, they will be escorted by staff to the tent exit.