2025 Commencement
Information on ceremonies and other events for the 2025 commencement season.
Three Ceremonies | One Day
All students must have a Splash card or government-issued ID to check in for graduation at Mahalia Jackson Theater.
All students participating in graduation must wear regalia.
Tickets are not required for SPHTM school ceremonies at Mahalia Jackson. If you have questions about ticketing, please visit this page or email TUGrad@tulane.edu.
Undergraduate Public Health Graduation Ceremony
Saturday, May 17, 8:30-10:30 am, Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts
- Undergraduate students must arrive between 7:q5 and 7:30 am to check in, show ID, and receive wristbands and Latin cords.
- Doors open for guests at 7:30 am.
- Procession to begin at 8:30 am and all guests must be seated by 8:15.
- All students are called by name, walk across the stage, and are handed a diploma cover by Dean LaVeist (photo will be taken).
- No tickets required
Ceremony Timeline
- TBD: Parking at Mahalia Jackson opens
- 7:15-7:30 am: Students on-site for check-in and robing
- 7:30 am: Doors open for guests
- 8:15 am: Guests must be seated
- 8:30 am: Procession begins; guests must be seated
- 9:00 am: Ceremony begins
- 10:30 am: Ceremony ends (approx.)
The ceremony will be livestreamed. Details TBD.
Walk Forward Requests
Graduating in August 2024 but want to walk in the May 2024 ceremony? Use this form to apply to walk forward. Please wait for an approval or denial email from Dean Valenzuela before making any travel plans or purchasing regalia.
Master's and Doctoral Public Health Graduation Ceremony
Saturday, May 17, 1:00 pm, Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts
- Parking opens at TBD.
- Graduate and Doctoral students must arrive by 11:00 am to check in, show ID, and receive wristbands. .
- Doors open for guests at 11:30 am.
- All students are called by name, walk across the stage, and are handed a diploma cover by Dean LaVeist (photo will be taken).
- A post-ceremony second line begins at Mahalia Jackson/Armstrong Park and will parade to The Mardi Gras Museum for a reception.
- No tickets are required.
The ceremony will be livestreamed. Details TBD.
Ceremony Timeline
- 10:45 am: Parking opens
- 11:00 am: Students on-site check-in and robing
- 11:30 am: Doors open for guests
- 12:30 pm: Procession begins; guests should be seated by 12:15
- 1:00 pm: Ceremony begins
- 2:30 pm: Ceremony ends (approx.)
- 2:45 pm: Second line parade begins (approx.)
- 3:00 pm: Second line parade ends (approx.)
- 3:00 pm: Graduation Reception at Mardi Gras Museum of Costumes & Culture begins
The Mardi Gras Museum
318 N. Rampart Street (Map & Directions)
New Orleans, LA 70112
Tel: (504) 218-4872
Email: info@themardigrasmuseum.com
Unified Commencement
Saturday, May 17, 6:00-7:00 pm, Ceasar's Superdome
- All graduates at every level must arrive between 4:30 and 5:30 pm.
- Guests must be seated by 5:55 pm
- Ceremony begins at 6:00 pm.
- All ten schools and colleges "commence" and degrees are conferred when President Fitts asks each school to stand.
- Students do not walk across the stage.
- You can expect lots of New Orleans music, honorary degrees acknowledging leaders and innovators, and plenty of Roll Wave spirit!
Tickets Required for Unified Commencement
Tickets will be required for all graduates and attendees at Unified Commencement at Ceasar's Superdome. Graduating students eligible to walk in the May 17 ceremony can request tickets for themselves and their guests beginning in April. A link will be provided.
Other Events
Other Events
BSPH Senior Toast
New this year! We are toasting our graduating seniors for all their hard work. BSPH Seniors and faculty and staff involved in undergraduate studies should save the date - more details to come.
Date: Monday, May 12
Time: 5-6:30pm
Location: Bea Field Alumni House, 6319 Willow St.
RSVP will be required
MD/MPH Class of ’25 Social
TBD
Delta Omega Ceremony
Regalia required; by invitation only.
All graduating doctoral students and their guests will be invited to a Hooding Ceremony. The ceremony is limited to invited guests and dissertation committees only, but it will be live-streamed (details TBD).
Date: Wednesday, May 14
Time: 6:00-8:30 pm
Location: Lula Distillery
Lula Distillery
1532 St. Charles Ave.
New Orleans, LA
Doctoral Hooding Ceremony
Regalia required; by invitation only.
All graduating doctoral students and their guests will be invited to a Hooding Ceremony. The ceremony is limited to invited guests and dissertation committees only.
Date: Thursday, May 15
Time: 3:30-5:30 pm
Location: TBD
Awards Ceremony
The SPHTM Annual Awards Ceremony will be pre-recorded and a portion of it will be shared at the SPHTM Graduate and Doctoral Ceremony. The full recording will be available following graduation. The event recognizes students along with some faculty and staff for their accomplishments. Awards are bestowed by Dean LaVeist, department chairs, the SPHTM Alumni Association, the Student Government Association, and other entities. Student awardees will be notified in advance.
Online Graduating Students Reception
Online students - are you traveling to New Orleans to walk during the Tulane University School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine Commencement?
Join WSPH faculty and staff in the Diboll Gallery in the Tidewater Building for a reception for graduating online students. Families are welcome to attend. Light refreshments will served.
Date: Friday, May 16
Time: 3:00 - 5:00 pm
Location: Diboll Gallery | Tidewater Building
1440 Canal Street
New Orleans, LA 70112
Please RSVP by TBD
Additional Information
Additional Information
Photography
Photographers and videographers will be on site. If you do not wish to be photographed or included in video, you must alert the photographer and videographer. Remember that public events are just that, public, and it may not be feasible to manage all photo/videography.
Wristbands
Wristbands will be required for all graduating students to participate in school graduation ceremonies and Unified Commencement. Students must bring their Splash ID or government-issued ID to the school ceremony to receive their wristband. The wristband should remain on through Unified Commencement. For students not attending school ceremonies, wristbands can also be issued at the student lineup at Unified Commencement.
Wristbands will not be required for senior awards or the doctoral hooding ceremony.
Parking
MAHALIA JACKSON PARKING
All parking at the theater is CASH ONLY.
Undergraduate Public Health Graduation Ceremony Parking for this ceremony opens at 7:15 am. All cars must exit the lot within 30 minutes following the ceremony.
Master's and Doctoral Public Health Graduation Ceremony Parking for this ceremony opens at 11:30 am Cars must exit the lot by 5:00 pm.
Individuals arriving via taxi/rideshare may enter via the Basin Street gate and will be dropped off near the front of the building.
Security
There have been changes around what is permitted in both school and unified ceremonies. Students should bring essential items only. There will be no holding area for bags or other possessions.
The following security measures apply to all students, faculty, staff, and guests participating in commencement events. As with home football games, all attendees and participants at Unified Commencement and school-based ceremonies will go through security and bag checks. Please arrive early to all events to allow adequate time.
A Clear Bag Policy will be in effect for Unified Commencement and all other school-based diploma and hooding ceremonies. Approved bags are as follows:
- Clear totes or bags no larger than 12" x 12" x 6".
- Small, non-clear clutch bags no larger than 4.5" x 6.5".
- Plastic, resealable storage bags no larger than one (1) gallon.
- Diaper bags (12" x 12" x 6") approved with child present.
- NO other bags will be permitted
Prohibited Items
The following items are not allowed:
backpacks, fanny packs, outside food or drink, weapons, laser pointers, fireworks, drones, confetti popper cannons, noise making devices, flashlights, optical illusions, beach balls or projectiles, skateboards/scooters/rollerblades, cans or bottles, pets (service animals are welcome), Note: Additional items may be added to this list prior to graduation.
Handheld umbrellas, including graduating students' second-line umbrellas, are permitted and will be inspected upon arrival.
Facility Policies: In addition to Tulane's policy, the Mahalia Jackson Theater has its own established policies. (Note: the following duplicates some items from the list above.)
- Firearms or weapons of any kind
- Cameras with external flash or interchangeable lenses; audio/video recording devices; tripods/monopods; drones; selfie sticks
- Laser pointers; optical illusions; flash lights
- Illegal substances
- Noise making devices, fireworks; signs/flags/banners; balloons
- Outside food and beverages; cans or bottles
- Beach balls or projectiles
- Skateboards/scooters/rollerblades
- Laptops/tablets,
- Pets (service animals are welcome)
- Outside food and beverages
The security process is a condition of entry. Any refusal or the use of abusive, threatening or discriminatory remarks will result in access being refused.
Freedom of Expression and Code of Conduct
Please note that Tulane’s Code of Student Conduct will be in place and enforced. Freedom of Expression is permitted but must not disrupt the freedom of others. Please see this page for a full explanation.
Tulane Graduation Glossary
Regalia: A graduating student's cap, gown, and (if applicable) hood. The degrees of MPH, MPHTM, and DrPH have a pink/salmon-colored hood and tassel. For the MS and MSPH, the hood and tassel are yellow/gold. For the MHA, the hood and tassel are beige/drab. And for the PhD, the hood/tassel is blue. Order regalia here.
Robing: The process of donning graduation robes and regalia.
Second Line: At its base, it is a brass band parade. The brass band and other elements make up the “main line." The “second line” refers to the spectators who join or follow the main line and contribute to the walking parade. This is what separates a second line from any other New Orleans parade: groups are not only welcome but encouraged to follow along, allowing the second line to grow as it marches.
The Unified: A shortened way of saying Unified Commencement, Tulane's collective ceremony for all graduates from all schools and colleges.
Be a Tourist
For guests staying longer than a day, here are several links to popular local tourist destinations that explore history, culture, and lifestyle.
- Tulane University Uptown Campus
- Swamp Tours
- New Orleans Jazz Museum
- New Orleans Museum of Art
- The National World War II Museum
- Hop-on Hop-off Bus
- The French Quarter
- City Park
- Audubon Nature Institute Attractions
Lodging
We recommend that guests make plans well in advance as graduation season is busy across the metro area. The following hotels are located near the school, the Mahalia Jackson Theater, and the Louisiana Super Dome.
Four- and Five-Star Stays
- The Ritz-Carlton New Orleans
- The Roosevelt New Orleans (Waldorf Astoria)
- The Royal Sonesta New Orleans
- Bourbon Orleans Hotel
- Hotel Monteleone
Moderate Stays
- Best Western Plus
- French Quarter
- Ctyd
- SpringHill Suites Canal St.
- Homewood Suites by Hilton
- Hampton Inn & Suites Canal St.
- The Jung Hotel & Residences
Dining
What would a trip to New Orleans be without indulging in our world famous cuisine? The following restaurants are all located close to the downtown campus and venues. Make reservations early.
Fine Dining
- Galatoire’s
- The Court of Two Sisters
- GW Fins
- Mr. B’s Bistro
- Muriel’s Jackson Square
Tasty Treats
- Acme Oyster House
- Deanie’s Seafood Restaurant
- Domenica
- Palm & Pine
- MaMou
