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Graduation Information

Commencement 2026

Commencement will be Tuesday, May 5, 2026, with two ceremonies scheduled for 5:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the Judson S. Erne Auditorium at Columbus North High School, 1400 25th St., Columbus, IN 47201.

More details are available below about which ceremony graduates should plan to attend.

Students who will complete a certificate, technical certificate, or associate degree in the Fall 2025, Spring 2026, and Summer 2026 semesters are invited to participate in the ceremony.

Students completing a credential are encouraged to attend, but it is not required.

Apply to Graduate

Each student entering their final semester for a certificate or associate degree must apply to graduate in MyIvy. To apply, go to MyIvy > Quicklinks > Apply to Graduate. Follow the instructions on the screen to select your curriculum, name to appear on the diploma, and diploma mailing address.

The deadline to apply to graduate and have your name printed in the commencement program is March 15.  Even if you are not attending the commencement ceremony, all students must apply to graduate. 

You will be notified via email when we have received and reviewed your graduation application. 

Commencement Details

Review details carefully — there are no rehearsals

There will be two commencement ceremonies that will last approximately one hour each.

The first ceremony will be for students in the following schools:  Business Logistics & Supply Chain; Entrepreneurship; Public Affairs & Social Services; Information Technology; Arts, Sciences & Education; Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering & Applied Science. Students participating in this ceremony need to arrive at 4:00 p.m.; the ceremony will begin at 5:00 p.m. 

The second ceremony will be for students in the following schools: Health Sciences and Nursing.  This ceremony will also include the nursing pinning ceremony.  Students participating in this ceremony need to arrive at 6:30 p.m.; the ceremony will begin at 7:30 p.m. 

DIRECTIONS

Columbus North High School is located at 1400 25th Street in Columbus, which is just west of the intersection of Central Avenue and 25th Street.   

PARKING/ENTRANCE

Most of the parking is located on the north side of the building. There is limited handicap parking on the west side of the building for those with mobility issues and a handicapped placard.  Students and guests should enter in door 8, located on the west side of the building.  The ceremony will take place in the auditorium.  

View a printable map

Due to seating limitations, graduating students are permitted to have up to four guests attend the ceremony.

Each graduate may request up to four guest tickets. All guests, including children of all ages, must have a ticket. (Graduates do not need a ticket.) If additional guests would like to join the celebration, a livestream will be available.

Tickets must be picked up between April 13-27 at the Columbus, Franklin or Shelbyville Ivy Tech locations during normal business hours. (If you have extenuating circumstances and are unable to pick up your tickets during that time, please email columbus-commencement@ivytech.edu.) Additional tickets may be available at the Columbus campus only starting on April 29th. These would be on a first come-first serve basis with limited quantities available per student; more details will be emailed on April 28th.  

Please ask your guests to arrive early to allow time to park, walk to the building and find a seat. As a courtesy to others, guests should remain seated until the ceremony ends. Seating for physically challenged guests will be available in the auditorium. Due to limited seating in that area, only one additional guest will be allowed to sit with that family member. Ushers will be available to assist any family members with special needs.  

Doors open 60 minutes before each ceremony. Please arrive early to allow time to park, walk to the building and find a seat.

Additonal information:

  • Every guest, including children of all ages, must have a ticket. With the exception of will-call, tickets will not be distributed on the day of the ceremony. Lost, stolen or forgotten tickets will not be replaced. Guests without a ticket will not be admitted.
  • Guest seating is offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Re-entry is not guaranteed once the ceremony begins.
  • These items are prohibited: strollers, oversized items, noisemakers, balloons and signs that obstruct views.
  • As a courtesy to others, please remain seated until the ceremony ends.
  • Families are welcome to take pictures or video, but must remain seated as to not block the view of the stage for other guests.
  • The following accessibility accommodations will be provided during the ceremony:
  • ASL interpretation
  • Live transcription that can be accessed on a mobile device by scanning a QR code
  • Seating for physically challenged guests will be available in the auditorium. Due to limited seating in
  • that area, only one additional guest will be allowed to sit with that family member.
  • Flowers and other graduate gifts will be available for purchase near the entrance of the auditorium.
  • Designate a meeting location outside of the building to reconnect with your graduate at the end of the ceremony.
  • The Community Room at Ivy Tech’s Moravec Hall (2 miles north / 4475 Central Avenue) will also be open for viewing the commencement ceremonies. Graduates and their families are welcome to stop by, enjoy a cupcake and take pictures before or after the ceremonies.

View a printable flyer with details for guests

The following accessibility accommodations will be provided during the ceremony: ASL interpretation, live transcription that can be accessed on a mobile device by scanning a QR code and limited seating for guests with mobility issues on a first come first serve basis.  If you have additional accessibility needs, contact Graciela Spencer at gspencer2@ivytech.edu by Monday, April 6th.  

Students participating in the commencement ceremony are required to wear a black cap and gown.

Please go the Herff Jones Ivy Tech website to order your cap, gown and tassel package. The price is $62 plus tax & shipping.  Standard shipping home deliveries will need to be placed by April 6th & expedited shipping home deliveries will need to be placed by April 13th to ensure delivery prior to the graduation ceremony.

Select what degree you will be graduating with, as this determines the color of your tassel (associate-green, technical certificate-white, certificate-gray). Be sure to also provide your correct height and weight for proper sizing.  All orders will be shipped in approximately two to three weeks to the address you provide on the order.  Additional items like announcements and frames are also available at this site.  

If the cost of a cap and gown presents a hardship, assistance is available to help ensure all students can participate. Please email columbus-commencement@ivytech.edu.  

View Instructions on How to Order Regalia Online

Honor cords are awarded to graduates who have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher at the end of the Fall 2025 semester. Honor cords will be distributed at the commencement ceremony. (Honor cords will be available after May 11th at the Columbus front desk If you are unable to attend commencement.)

Members of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society may wear a medallion, stole and/or cord which can be purchased online at ptk.org.  Contact Aundrey Ligon with questions.  

Cords will also be provided to our outstanding graduates and veterans.  

Families are welcome to take pictures or video, but must remain in their seats so they don’t block the view of the stage for other guests.  A photographer will be taking photographs of the graduates as they walk across the stage.  Several weeks after the ceremony, the photographer will email the photos to your Ivy Tech email address.  

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Plan your clothing so that it will look nice under your commencement gown. Business casual dress attire is appropriate.  Jeans, shorts or athletic shoes are not appropriate.  For appearance purposes, you should have your gown pressed/ironed before the ceremony.

  • You will assemble in the LGI room near the auditorium. Tassels go on the right side of your cap. The cap should be adjusted as near to parallel with the ground as possible (like a plate or book on your head). You may decorate your cap tastefully and appropriately.

  • Upon arrival staff will direct you to the LGI room, where you will stay until the ceremony begins. (Please do not bring purses or any other valuable items with you, as there is not a secure place for those to be kept during the ceremony.) There will be a check-in table where you will receive a card with your name, degree, program and your line-up number. Please review the information with the assistant at the
    table. If any of the information is incorrect, the assistant will prepare a new card for you. Also, if the pronunciation of your name is unusual or difficult, please have the assistant write it phonetically on the card. (You will carry this card with you onto the stage.) Attendants will help you get lined up in the correct order.

     

  • At the appropriate time during the ceremony, ushers will direct the graduates to stand one row at a time. You should only carry your name card to the stage.  Just before you cross the stage, you will hand your card to the individual at the corner of the stage, who will announce your name. You will proceed across the stage where the chancellor will present you with a diploma cover. A photographer will take your picture with him. Proceed back to your row and be seated.

    All diplomas are mailed to the address you provided on the graduation application. December graduates should have already received their diplomas. May graduates should receive their diplomas by late-June. July/August graduates should receive their diplomas by mid-September.  

  • After all the graduates have returned and been seated, you will be directed to stand as a group for the official conferring of degrees. Then the CLASS OF 2026 will be presented, at which time you will change your tassel from the right to the left side of your cap. After closing remarks, the chancellor will indicate that the ceremony has concluded. Music will begin and the stage party and faculty will exit from the stage. Students will recess out the back of the auditorium. You may want to designate a meeting location to rejoin family and friends after the ceremony.  

Questions About Graduation?

Contact the Columbus Registrar with questions about your graduation application, diploma, or any other related questions about the completion of your associate degree or certificate.

Registrar Office
Corrie McGuckin
cmcguckin@ivytech.edu 
812-297-3260