Commencement Information for the Class of 2026
We are thrilled to celebrate the class of 2026 at this year's commencement ceremony, which will be held on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at 10:00AM at the PPL Center in Allentown, PA.
Baccalaureate Mass will be held on campus on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at 4:00PM.
Student Commencement Countdown
Your application for graduation must be completed by April 1, 2026, even if you do not plan to walk in the ceremony. This is the process that results in completion of your transcript and the conferring of your degree.
- By April 1: Complete application for graduation on WebAdvisor/SelfService.
- By March 23: Order your cap and gown from Oak Hall.
- Ship to home residence or Campus Bookstore options available.
- Ship to Home Residence — please use your current home address.
- Business Office
Second floor - Dooling Hall
Payment of any outstanding balances. - Financial Aid Office
First floor - Dooling Hall
Where appropriate, completion of exit interview. - Registrar's Office
First floor - Dooling Hall
For your degree to be officially conferred, your program evaluation on MYDSU/Academic Planning must indicate all graduation requirements have been completed. - Library
Return of all books and payment of any outstanding fines. - Career Development Center
Graduates will receive an email from Dr. Terry Wignot, the Provost, or your department head with a personalized form to complete the GO Survey (Graduation Outcomes/Senior Survey). The survey must be completed as part of graduation requirements.
This year, we're making it even easier for you to get your photos included in the memory montage slideshow during the commencement ceremony!
Celebrate #DeSalesU2026 on social media with filters and stickers created just for the occasion!
- Open Instagram and create a story by tapping the + icon on your profile photo in the top left corner
- Take a new or choose an existing video/photo
- Tap GIF/sticker icon
- Search “DeSales”
- Add the GIF of your choice
- Post to your IG story!
OR
- Create a reel by tapping the reel icon (bottom middle of screen in IG)
- Tap sparkles above video icon
- Tap magnifying glass to search for DeSales
- Preview bulldog ears filter, then swipe down to record using filter
- Post to your feed/reels!
TikTok
- Open TikTok and tap the + icon at the bottom middle of the screen to create a new TikTok
- Upload existing or create new video
- Tap gif/stickers icon
- Search “DeSales”
- Add the GIF of your choice
- Post to your TikTok feed!
- Open Facebook and create a new status
- Tap the green add photo icon
- Take a new or choose an existing video/photo
- Tap photo/video to edit
- Tap gif/stickers icon
- Tap gifs
- Search “DeSales”
- Add the gif of your choice
- Finish by tapping “post” to post to your Facebook feed!
Baccalaureate
Saturday, May 9, 2026 at 4PM
DeSales Campus
Please RSVP by Friday, May 1
RSVP to Baccalaureate
- Toast to the Class of 2026
- All graduates and guests attending Baccalaureate are invited to gather after mass at the Trexler Library patio for a special toast to the Class of 2026! A photo booth will be available for graduates to capture memories with families and friends.
- Registration is not required. For questions, please contact Melissa Ciment, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations.
Commencement Ceremony
Sunday, May 10, 2026 at 10AM
PPL Center 701 Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA 18101- For a complete list of venue policies and information, please visit the PPL Center website
Note: Academic attire is required for Baccalaureate and Commencement
Photography and Drones
Photography at Baccalaureate, Dinner Dance and Commencement is welcomed in designated areas. Unofficial drones are strictly forbidden on campus and in the PPL Center.
Diplomas will be mailed to the address provided by students on their application for graduation application approximately six weeks after the ceremony.
Need to Know Info
Honor Cords Policy and Commencement Honors Policy
It is University policy that honor cords are only for students who have been inducted into honor societies. Cords associated with honor societies are given out at honor society inductions; therefore, students are not to purchase any separate cords. Latin honors (summa cum laude/magna cum laude/cum laude) are not designated by any cords; however, they are noted in the Commencement program.
Students should not purchase or wear any Commencement stoles as they are not permitted to be worn as part of the regalia at the ceremony.
Commencement Honors Policy
DeSales University awards commencement honors for outstanding academic achievement as follows:
Effective with the Class of 2023, in order to qualify for honors, the student must have completed at least half of their degree in graded courses at DeSales University.
- Cum laude: for a cumulative GPA of 3.5 to 3.649
- Magna cum laude: for a cumulative GPA of 3.65 to 3.79
- Summa cum laude: for a cumulative GPA of 3.8 to 4.0
Senior Class Gift
Honor your graduation while helping to support, transform, and strengthen the DeSales experience for current and future students. Making your class gift begins your lifelong connection to the DeSales Alumni community. This act of giving back and continuing the legacy of donors who supported your journey at DeSales University is a time-honored tradition since 1965. The Office of Institutional Advancement would like to honor your gift with a special thank you – a Class of 2026 donor pin for you to wear at commencement.
Guests’ Guide to Commencement
Area Hotels
3800 West Drive, Center Valley, Pennsylvania 18034
610-709-9797
Offers free breakfast
3350 Center Valley Parkway Center Valley, Pennsylvania, 18034
610-351-6400
Offers free breakfast, provides evening appetizers during the week
Each graduate is allowed a maximum of 15 guests. No guest tickets will be required for the ceremony. PPL Center security will be utilizing metal detectors at every entrance, including the student entrance at the loading dock. Anyone entering the arena will have to go through metal detectors. Please see PPL Center's guide for arena policies.
An email will be sent to graduates in early May with additional information.
Handicapped accessible seating is available throughout the arena and your guest will need to ask a PPL usher to be escorted to those seats when arriving at the gate.
Graduates are asked to enter through the Loading Dock area entrance of the PPL Center located on 720 Linden Street, Allentown, PA 18101. Arrival time is 8:30 AM.
Guests will enter through the main doors of PPL Center located on 701 Hamilton Street. Doors and concession stands will be open for guests at 8:30 AM.
For directions and parking, please visit the PPL Center’s website
Photography at the ceremony is welcomed in designated areas. Unofficial drones are strictly forbidden.