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You've made it, graduation is just around the corner! This page is your dedicated hub for all things related to your graduation experience. From graduate regalia to picking up tickets and preparing for the big day, everything you need to know is right here.
For additional information, including ceremony details, guest guidelines and more, use the quick links below to explore other graduation resources.
Stay up-to-date on important graduation events and deadlines
Use this checklist to complete all tasks needed to graduate
Find answers to general questions about graduation.
Order your graduation announcements.
Online graduates should regularly check their University email accounts for updated information. If you have additional questions, please call FranU at (225) 526-1700 to be directed to the appropriate department or staff member.
Online students are also encouraged to attend the Graduation Prep Day virtual session if at all possible.
All Spring 2025 Graduates are invited to attend Graduation on Saturday, May 17, 10 a.m. in the Raising Cane’s River Ballroom (398 St Louis St Ste 300, Baton Rouge, LA). All graduates should arrive, in full regalia, no later than 9 a.m.
Attendees must follow all River Center procedures that take effect between now and Graduation.
You’ll receive your seven guest tickets with your cap & gown on on April 22 & April 23. It’s your responsibility to keep track of your tickets. Please contact ashley.fontenot@franu.edu to arrange an alternate pick-up date if needed. There will be a Will-Call station at Graduation for out-of-town students or anyone who wishes to use this option.
For more ceremony information, please visit our Graduation page.
We’re creating a photo slideshow to show during graduation. These pictures should represent your time at FranU and can be individual or group photos. We aren't looking so much for "official" portraits (although Graduation photos are fine), but more casual photos of you and classmates in class, clinicals, volunteer work, campus events, spending time together outside of school, receiving awards/White Coats, etc. Please email all photos to Ashley Fontenot at ashley.fontenot@franu.edu by Monday, May 5 at 4 p.m.
Graduates are to enter the Galleria entrance near the parking garages on St. Louis Street. Guests should arrive at the Ballroom entrance. All guests and graduates will exit from the Ballroom following Graduation.
Upon entering through the Galleria, all graduates should proceed to the student holding room to check in with the Registrar and receive your name card.
Your name card shows how your name will be announced. Do not fold, write on or damage it. Report any errors to the Registrar. Keep it with you during the ceremony, names are read from these cards. If you receive a second colored card, keep that too. More instructions will follow during line-up.
After checking in, please stay in the vicinity of the student holding rooms. Thirty minutes prior to the ceremony, students will be gathered to begin lineup. If not in the holding room at this time, you risk not being able to process in/sit with your classmates.
After check-in, you’ll wait in the student holding room to line up. Please follow all instructions during line-up, the procession and once you enter the Ballroom. Once seated, please do not get up unless absolutely necessary. Graduates will sit by program: Doctorate, then Master’s, then Undergraduate by school.
When it’s time to award diplomas, graduates will be prompted to line up near the stage and should follow all instructions to maintain your place in line. All guests should remain seated. As your name is announced, you’ll walk across stage to receive your diploma (and be hooded, if applicable). If a Master’s or Doctoral graduate, staff will assist you in draping your hood over your arm correctly before you walk across stage. More hood instructions will be emailed the week of Graduation. Once off stage, you will take cap and gown photos and receive gifts from the Alumni Association before returning to your seat. There will be a closing prayer and final words to conclude the ceremony before the exit.
Barclell will take a photo as you receive your diploma as you are walking across stage (and hood, if applicable). Once offstage, they’ll take a portrait of you in front of a background.
Barclell will also post proofs of your photos on their website after Graduation which you can purchase.
If you have any questions, please call (225)791-1951 or email them at BarclellStudio@yahoo.com.
At the ceremony’s conclusion, faculty will exit first to traditional recessional music. Then, the graduates and platform party (those sitting on stage) will recess to a “Second Line”. Each program will receive two parasols to decorate for the Second Line however you’d like- beads, glitters, feathers, sequins, etc.! All decorated parasols are due back to the President’s Office by Wednesday, Monday, May 12 by 4 p.m. When you drop them off, please include the name of your program and the students who will carry them during the Second Line. All graduates who don’t carry parasols will have handkerchiefs on their chairs to wave during the Second Line. These are yours to keep as mementos from the ceremony. If your program wishes for more parasols to decorate, please contact Ashley Fontenot at Ashley.fontenot@franu.edu.
Please come to Graduation dressed in full regalia (cap/gown/tassel) as extras will not be available. It is your responsibility to wear any items given to you at Graduation Mass and your Pinning and Awards the day before, if you so choose. All regalia pieces you receive are yours to keep.
Graduates will be issued a cap, gown, and tassel. All regalia pieces you receive are yours to keep.
It is strongly suggested that you wear all regalia to ensure you have all items.
Extra/additional caps, gowns, or tassels will NOT be available.
Male graduates should wear dress shirts with ties, dark dress pants and dark shoes.
Female graduates should wear skirts, dresses, or dark pants, and neutral-colored shoes (black, brown, tan, white, etc.). As a reminder, you will be walking across stage (as well as navigating stairs) so our advice is to avoid wearing excessively high heels.
Under no circumstances are embellishments to the gown/cap permitted. You may be dismissed for inappropriate attire. In such instances, your diploma will be mailed to you.
Graduates should give all personal belongings to their guests prior to the ceremony, as they are not allowed to have anything in their hands, e.g., a phone or purse. A small bag or purse under your gown if needed, but remember that only clear bags are allowed.
FranU and/or the Raising Cane’s River Center are not responsible for your personal belongings.
Graduates in a Bachelor degree program can graduate:
Cum Laude graduates receive gold tassels to wear with the gown. Magna Cum Laude graduates receive gold tassels and gold/navy cords. Summa Cum Laude graduates receive gold tassels and gold cords. All Honors items will be distributed at Graduation Mass.
Graduates in an Associates program can graduate with:
Honors graduates receive gold tassels to wear with the gown. Highest Honors graduates receive gold tassels & navy/white cords. All tassels and cords will be distributed at Graduation Mass.
Tassels should be worn on the right for Associates and Bachelor degree programs. Masters and Doctoral degree students should wear their tassels on the left. For undergraduate degrees students move their tassel from right to left after receiving their diploma. Master’s and doctoral graduates will keep their tassels on the left. Students receiving an Associate, Bachelor, or, Master degree will receive a blue/gold tassel when picking up your cap and gown. Students receiving a doctoral degree will receive a colored tassel by discipline (below).
| Associate’s Degree, Bachelor’s Degree, and Master’s Degree | Blue and Gold |
| Doctoral Degree (All entries shown below are part of the Doctoral Degree) | Color by Discipline |
| - Nursing and Nurse Anesthesia | Apricot |
| - Health Administration | Salmon |
| - Arts and Sciences | Black |
| - Health Professions | Green |
| - Nursing and Nurse Anesthesia | Apricot |
| - Health Administration | Salmon |
| - Arts and Sciences | Black |
| - Physical Therapy | Teal |
| - Nutritional Sciences | Gold |
All graduates completing a Master Degree will be hooded on stage during Graduation. You’ll receive your hood at your Pinning and Awards ceremony. It is your responsibility to bring your hood on Graduation Day.
All graduates completing a Doctoral Degree will be hooded on stage during Graduation. You’ll receive your hood at your Pinning and Awards ceremony. It is your responsibility to bring your hood on Graduation Day.
Congratulations on this wonderful accomplishment! Please contact Ashley Fontenot with questions at 225-526-1729 or by email at ashley.fontenot@franu.edu.
Please use the link below to order Graduation announcements through Balfour’s website. A representative from Balfour will also be in attendance at Graduation Prep Day to assist with ordering announcements.
Your official welcome from the FranU Alumni Association
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