School of Liberal Arts Recognition Event 2026

School of Liberal Arts Recognition Event 2026

Get ready, Liberal Arts Jags, it’s time to plan ahead for your celebration! 

The IU School of Liberal Arts annual year-end Recognition Event is an important part of the IU Commencement weekend festivities and celebrates the extraordinary achievements of our graduating students. 

School of Liberal Arts Recognition Event

When: Saturday, May 16, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. 
Where: Indiana Convention Center, Sagamore Ballroom, 2nd floor, 100 South Capitol Ave., Indianapolis  

What to expect

The School of Liberal Arts Recognition Event is a smaller, more intimate ceremony where you will be individually recognized with your classmates. Undergraduate degree students will cross the stage and have your name read. Master and Doctoral degree students will cross the stage, have your name read, and be hooded by your department faculty (master and doctoral students only). 

RSVP by April 3

Be Our Student Speaker!

Do you have a positive, meaningful, and inspirational message you would like to share with your graduating class and their families? A selected student will have the honor of delivering their speech at the IU School of Liberal Arts Recognition Event on May 16, 2026. Both undergraduate and graduate students are encouraged to apply. 

To be considered, interested students are asked to submit an outline of their message and why they want to be this year’s speaker. The delivery time of the speech must be no longer than five (5) minutes.

Following the review of all eligible submissions, the Student Recognition Review committee will request a video recording or an in-person speech for final selection. 

All applicants are required to complete the School of Liberal Arts Recognition Event 2026 Student Speaker Application Form no later than Friday, March 13.

For questions about this application process, you may contact libarecs@iu.edu.

Where to go

• Best entrance – Maryland Street (guests can also enter the second floor via the Skywalks from the Westin or Hyatt hotels). For more information, see the Indiana Convention Center floor plans. 
• All students participating in the event should arrive no later than 1:45 p.m. for registration and line-up. Go directly to Meeting Rooms 205-207 on the second floor of the Indiana Convention Center. Master and Doctoral students should line up with your hooding faculty member. 
• Guests should go directly to the Sagamore Ballroom on the 2nd floor and be seated no later than 2:15 p.m. 

When to arrive

Doors open at 1:00 p.m.  

• Participating graduate and undergraduate students should check in at Meeting Rooms 205-207 on the second floor of the Indiana Convention Center no later than 1:45 p.m.  Doctoral and Master students participating in the hooding ceremony should line up with their hooding faculty.  
• All guests should go directly to the Sagamore Ballroom on the 2nd floor and be seated no later than 2:15 p.m. Guests requiring mobility aid accessible seating will find open areas throughout the floor seating. There will be an ASL interpreter and reserved seating for guests in need of accommodation. Ushers will be available to escort guests to the appropriate section and assist with any additional accommodation requests. 

Additional Information

1. Guests are welcome

There is no limit to the number of guests you can invite to the event. No physical tickets will be required.  

2. Attire

• University-wide, regalia is reserved for the main IU Indianapolis Commencement. School-based recognition ceremonies are conducted in professional business attire. 
• Undergraduate students should wear professional business attire, IU stole and/or any stoles provided to you by campus organizations, and any honor cords or medallions.  
• Master and Doctoral degree students will be hooded as part of the tradition of the school’s recognition program. You will carry the hood across the stage and the hood will be placed over your head by your hooding faculty member while you are on the stage.  

3. Recognition Event timing

The Recognition Event ceremony is expected to last no longer than 2 hours. You and your guests attending the IU Commencement at Carroll Staduim will have time to travel between locations. Please review the Commencement schedule.

4. Diplomas and diploma covers

• IU diploma covers are presented at IU Indianapolis Commencement only. 
  Diplomas are not distributed at either IU Indianapolis Commencement or the School of Liberal Arts Recognition Event. Diplomas will be mailed directly to your “diploma” address listed in the SIS Student Center within 6–8 weeks of degree conferral. When it ships, you will receive a confirmation email. You should continue to monitor your IU email after graduation.  

5. Accessibility accommodations 

• There will be ushers and staff throughout the Convention Center and Ballroom for assistance.  
• ASL interpreters will be present. 
• A ramp to the stage will be available for those participating in crossing the stage.  
• The Sagamore Ballroom is flat with no stairs or bleacher seats. 
• Guests may want to be dropped off before parking to minimize travel distance. The Convention Center recommends that guests be dropped off at the Maryland Street canopy at the southwest corner of Maryland near Capitol Avenue. This is also the closest entrance to our event.