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.
Undergraduate Public Health Graduation Ceremony
Saturday, May 17, 8:30-10:30 am, Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts
- Undergraduate students must arrive at 7:00 am to check in, show ID, and receive Latin cords.
- Doors open for guests at 7:30 am.
- Procession to begin at 8:30 am, and all guests must be seated by 8:25.
- 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
- Undergraduate teaching faculty should be in attendance.
The ceremony will be livestreamed.
Ceremony Timeline
- 6:30 am: Parking at Mahalia Jackson opens, and is $25, card-only.
- 7:00 am: Students on-site for check-in and robing
- 7:30 am: Doors open for guests
- 8:25 am: Guests must be seated
- 8:30 am: Procession begins; guests must be seated
- 8:30 am: Ceremony begins
- 10:30 am: Ceremony ends (approx.)
Walk Forward Requests
Graduating in August 2025 but want to walk in the May 2025 ceremony? Please contact your Student Success Advisor or Program Manager to request the form and learn about the submission process. 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, 12:30 pm, Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts
- Graduate and Doctoral students must arrive by 11:00 am to check in and show ID.
- 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.
- All available faculty should be in attendance.
Download the Awards Program.
The ceremony will be livestreamed.
Ceremony Timeline
- 10:45 am: Parking opens, and is $25, card-only.
- 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
- 12:30 pm: Ceremony begins
- 2:30 pm: Ceremony ends (approx.)
- 2:30 pm: Second line parade begins (approx.)
- 3:00 pm: Second line parade ends (approx.)
- 2:30-4:00 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, 6:00-7:30 pm, Caesar's Superdome
- All graduates at every level must arrive between 4:00 and 5:00 pm.
- Guests can enter the Superdome beginning at 4:30 pm, and 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.
- Parking is $25 and may be prepaid.
- Tickets are required
- You can expect lots of New Orleans music, honorary degrees acknowledging leaders and innovators, and plenty of Roll Wave spirit!
The ceremony will be livestreamed.
Tickets Required for Unified Commencement
Tickets will be required for everyone (graduates and guests) to enter the Caesars Superdome and student lineup areas. Graduates should have received an email from TUgrad@tulane.edu with the subject line “Register Now for the 2025 Tulane Unified Commencement Ceremony” containing instructions to register and retrieve Unified Commencement tickets via Tassel. Once graduates register, they are able to print tickets and/or send them to guests’ email addresses.
- Graduates will receive a separate graduate ticket from their guest tickets.
- Each graduate will receive up to 25 guest tickets (not including the graduate’s ticket).
- All guests 2 years and older must have their own ticket.
- Graduates can send all tickets to the same email address(es), but the tickets will arrive in individual emails.
Graduates can return to their Tassel account at any time by using their registered email address at tulane.tassel.com.
If you have not received the Tassel registration email, please check your spam folder or email TUgrad@tulane.edu. Tickets will not be required for individual ceremonies.
Other Events
Other Events
BSPH Senior Toast
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
Delta Omega Ceremony
This is an invitation only event for the new inductees in to the Delta Omega Public Health Honors Society.
Date: Wednesday, May 14
Time: 6:00-8:30 pm
Location: Lula Distillery
Lula Distillery
1532 St. Charles Ave.
New Orleans, LA
Doctoral Hooding Ceremonies
Regalia required; by invitation only.
All graduating doctoral students and guests will be invited to a hooding ceremony. The ceremony is limited to invited guests and dissertation committees only.
PhD Hooding Ceremony
Date: Thursday, May 15, 2025
Time: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm (If the time change impacts your ability to attend, please email sphtmgraduation@tulane.edu and Dr. Andrinopoulos immediately)
Location: Tidewater, Diboll Auditorium (with reception in the Diboll Gallery)
Tickets: Students will be allowed 10 tickets. If you need additional tickets, please email sphtmgraduation@tulane.edu.
RSVP: PhD Hooding Ceremony RSVP Link
DrPh Hooding Ceremony
Date: Thursday, May 15, 2025
Time: 3:30 - 5:00 pm
Location: Tidewater, Diboll Auditorium (with reception in the Diboll Gallery)
Tickets: Students will be allowed 10 tickets. If you need additional tickets, please email sphtmgraduation@tulane.edu
RSVP: DrPh Hooding Ceremony RSVP Link
Awards Ceremony
The WSPH Annual Awards Ceremony will be pre-recorded and a portion of it will be shared at the WSPH 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 WSPH Alumni Association, the Student Government Association, and other entities. Student awardees will be notified in advance.
Online Graduating Students Reception
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.
Parking
MAHALIA JACKSON PARKING
All parking at the theater is and is $25, CARD-ONLY.
Parking is open and available 6:30 am to 6:30 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
