Commencement

Congratulations to all those completing their degree programs and preparing for graduation this spring! Details on Commencement events are listed below.

Commencement Events

Associate of Science in Nursing Pinning Ceremony | Wednesday, May 8, 2024

St. Joseph the Worker Church, 777 West Hollis St., Nashua, NH 03062

• Graduates must arrive by 3:15 p.m., ceremony begins at 4:00 p.m.
• RSVP will be required, and there is no limit on guests. Please click here to RSVP by Friday, Apr. 12.

• Please wear your gown and carry your hood with your pin attached (cap is not required) when you arrive at the church hall.
• Please check in at the registration table to pick up your name card.
• The approximate length of the ceremony is 1 hour.

This ceremony can be viewed live on the day of each event at www.stjoenash.org.
Please note: The church website broadcasts other events as well, and this page is not dedicated only to our event. 

Master’s Hooding Ceremony | Thursday, May 9, 2024

St. Joseph the Worker Church, 777 West Hollis St., Nashua, NH 03062

• Due to the high number of students graduating, Rivier will offer two Master’s Hooding Ceremonies. Both ceremonies are the same and open to all academic programs. The first ceremony will be at 4:30 p.m. and the second ceremony will be at 6:30 p.m.
• Master’s/Ed.S./Post-Master’s students must arrive 45 minutes prior to their ceremony start time.
• RSVP will be required. Due to the size of the graduating class, guests will be limited to four per graduating student. Please click here to RSVP by Friday, Apr. 12.

• Please wear your gown and carry your hood (cap is not required) when you arrive at the church hall.
• Please check in at the registration table to pick up your name card.
• The approximate length of the ceremony is one hour.

This ceremony can be viewed live on the day of each event at www.stjoenash.org.
Please note: The church website broadcasts other events as well, and this page is not dedicated only to our event. 

Mass of Thanksgiving – Class of 2024 | Friday, May 10, 2024 | 2:30 p.m.

Rivier University Resurrection Chapel, 427 S. Main Street, Nashua, NH 03064

• RSVP will be required.
• The approximate length of the service is 45 min.
• Undergraduate students will proceed directly to the Undergraduate Celebration being held at St. Joseph the Worker Church, 777 West Hollis St., Nashua, NH 03062
• Parking is available in the Resurrection Chapel Parking lot (A).

Undergraduate Celebration: Honors Recognition and Hooding | Friday, May 10, 2024

St. Joseph the Worker Church, 777 West Hollis St., Nashua, NH 03062

• Graduates must arrive by 3:15 p.m., ceremony begins at 4:00 p.m.
• RSVP will be required, and there is a limit of 4 guests per graduate. Please click here to RSVP by Friday, Apr. 12.

• Please wear your gown and carry your hood (cap is not required) when you arrive at the church hall.  (Nurses should have their pin attached to their hood.)
• Please check in at the registration table to pick up your name card.
• The approximate length of the ceremony is 1 ½ hours.

This ceremony can be viewed live on the day of each event at www.stjoenash.org.
Please note: The church website broadcasts other events as well, and this page is not dedicated only to our event. 

Commencement | Sunday, May 12, 2024 | 10 a.m. 

Tsongas Center, 300 Arcand Drive, Lowell, MA 01852

• Graduates must arrive by 8:30 a.m.

• You may bring as many guests as you like to Commencement. Please arrive at the Tsongas Center (east entrance) wearing your full academic regalia (cap, gown, hood, tassel, and applicable cords) before 8:30 a.m. Guests should enter through the Main Entrance; Doors open for guests at 9 a.m.
• The approximate length of the ceremony is 2 1/2 hours.
• Rivier will honor Judge Talesha L. Saint-Marc as its 2024 Commencement speaker and honorary degree recipient.

Cap and Gown Pick-up

Students can pick up their cap and gown by visiting Rivier Bookstore during normal business hours at the following on-campus career fairs:

• Wednesday, February 27 | Nursing and Health Sciences programs
• Tuesday, March 26 | Business and Arts and Sciences programs
• Monday, April 8 | Education programs

Additionally, all graduating students can pick up regalia from the Rivier Bookstore during normal business hours beginning on Tuesday, April 9. If you did not pre-order your cap and gown, you can still pick up your regalia. Any student that is unable to pick up their regalia in person can call the Rivier Bookstore at (603) 888-4145 to arrange for shipment.

All Doctoral students must reach out to their appropriate Program Director to obtain an order form for regalia.

Preparing for Graduation

Your first step toward graduation is completing your formal notification of intent to graduate. Each degree-seeking student must submit the Application for Graduation electronically or through a paper form available in the Office of the Registrar.

Students who complete degree requirements after the summer or fall semesters are encouraged to participate in the Commencement ceremony in May. You are advised to check with your Department Chairperson or Academic Advisor to be certain that all requirements for graduation have been met.

A mandatory graduation fee of $175 is charged to all students’ accounts upon acceptance of the Application to Graduate. Student account balances must be paid in full before diplomas or our new e-Diplomas are issued. Graduation fees can be paid through MyRiv.

After you submit your online Application for Graduation, you will see a confirmation page with additional information. You will receive additional information via your student email once it becomes available. Please check your Rivier University email regularly for any updates.

You are welcome to contact us if you have additional questions.