Commencement 2020

On Campus Rooms

DeSales provides on-campus residence hall rooms at no charge for commencement weekend. Beds are extra-long twin mattresses and rooms include pillows and soap. You can bring your own linens, or we can arrange for linen service for $20 per set. Each linen packet includes two sheets, two towels, one washcloth, one pillowcase and one blanket. 

• Commencement Housing Registration Form

Area Hotels

• SpringHill Suites Allentown Bethlehem/Center Valley 
  3800 West Drive, Center Valley, Pennsylvania 18034
  610-709-9797
  Offers free breakfast
• Historic Hotel Bethlehem
  437 Main Street, Bethlehem, PA. 18018
  610-625-5000
  Info@HotelBethlehem.com
• Homewood Suites by Hilton Allentown Bethlehem Center Valley 
  3350 Center Valley Parkway Center Valley, Pennsylvania, 18034
  610-351-6400
  Offers free breakfast, provides evening appetizers during the week
• Renaissance Allentown Hotel in the PPL Center
  12 N 7th Street, Allentown, PA 18101
  484-273-4000

Tickets to the commencement ceremony are not necessary and seating will be on a first come, first served basis. Guests are also welcome to bring lawn chairs.

Photography at the ceremony is welcomed in designated areas. Unofficial drones are strictly forbidden on campus.

What better way to honor your student than with an ad in the yearbook? Creating your ad is easy, and can be done from anywhere with our online ad builder. Here’s how to create the perfect message for your son or daughter or your squad:

• How to: Yearbook Ad Builder
• Prices & Ad Sizes

 

Please join us Friday night before graduation for the Class of 2020 Dinner Dance. This event is for graduates and guests.

• Friday, May 15, 2020
• 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
• DeSales University Center 
• 7:30 p.m. Cocktails
• 8:00 p.m. Buffet Dinner
• $40 per person
• Jacket and Tie Recommended
• Dance to the music by DJ Nick Luchko
• Please register and Pay Online by May 4, 2020

Register Now

NOTE: NO REGISTRATIONS OR PAYMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED AT THE DOOR. 

Questions? Call the Alumni Office at 610.282.1100 ext. 2112

Online cap & gown ordering has closed. You can be fitted and pick up your cap & gown at Senior Sendoff on April 22 (see step #2).

 

Pick Up Commencement Package at Senior Send Off

Wednesday, April 22  
8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Commonwealth Room, DeSales University Center

Stop by any time throughout the day to pick up your cap and gown*, tickets, and announcements. Graduates will receive 10 announcements; additional personalized announcements can be ordered at college.jostens.com

The following tables will be there to provide graduation information:

• Alumni
• Balfour (Class Rings)
• Campus Store
• Career Development
• Senior Gift
• Graduate Offices
• Student Affairs
• Senior Week
• Registrar
• Yearbook

Tickets: Tickets are not necessary and seating will be first-come, first-served. Guests are also welcome to bring lawn chairs, which can be placed in shaded areas. 

EVENING PICKUP: The information tables will end at 4:00 p.m., but cap and gown and tickets can be picked up that night in the campus store. If you are unable to pick up your package on April 22, please stop by the campus store after April 23 during normal business hours:

• Mon. - Thurs. 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
• Friday 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
• Saturday 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. 

*Graduates don't need to be measured for caps and gowns.

Please be aware that to be cleared to graduate, you must satisfy all obligations to the University. The following must be completed by 12:00 p.m. on Monday, May 11, 2020:

• Business Office 
  Second floor - Dooling Hall
  Payment of any outstanding balances.
• Financial Aid Office
  First floor - Dooling Hall
  Where appropriate, completion of exit interview.
• Library
  Return of all books and payment of any outstanding fines.
• Career Development Center
  Fill out the First Destination Survey 

For Senior Week event information and registration, please email the Office of Student Engagement and Leadership at seal@desales.edu.

Thank you!

Baccalaureate: Friday, May 15 2020
Commencement: Saturday, May 16, 2020

See schedules on this page. You’ll be directed to one of the many parking areas that surround the campus and shuttles will be available.

• The Baccalaureate ceremony will be held in Billera Hall on the Wood Courts.
• Commencement will be held outdoors on the intramural field behind Conmy/Tocik Halls. 

Handicapped Parking:
The Conmy and Tocik parking lots will be used for handicapped parking at Commencement. Handicapped parking is available at Billera Hall for Baccalaureate.

DeSales University encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about physical access provided, please email Commencement@desales.edu at least two weeks before the commencement to allow the University to provide reasonable accommodations.

Baccalaureate will be held in Billera Hall on the Wood Courts. Seniors are to sit with their families and should wear full academic attire.  

Full academic attire is required for Commencement.

Campus Ministry will reserve seating for those students (and their families) who are involved in the Mass as lectors and Eucharistic Ministers.

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.