This year, Meadville Lombard will provide a robe and hood for you whether you will attend the event or not. If you have not sent in your measurements, please contact Elena Jimenez as soon as possible.
If you attend the Commencement Ceremony, you will receive an empty diploma holder during the ceremony. Whether you attend the ceremony or not, your diploma will be mailed to you in late May or early June.
Vespers, Dinner, and the Commencement Ceremony will be photographed. All photos will be posted on Meadville Lombard's Facebook page. If you would like to get high-resolution files of the photos, please contact Tomo Hillbo, Director of Communications.
The commencement fee is $185 and will be billed by the Business Office through Populi. This fee helps to defray the costs of commencement activities, as well as graduate audits and diploma printing. The fee applies to all graduates, regardless of whether or not you attend commencement, and must be paid in full in order to receive a diploma.
The Student Services Office has arranged for discounts at area hotels. Due to the busy weekend in Chicago, we encourage attendees to arrange for accommodations as soon as possible. Please see the local accommodations and travel guide for more information.
Please note: this information is provided as a resource only. Meadville Lombard does not endorse or recommend any particular housing option.
Please contact Elena Jimenez at (312) 212-0672 or Kay Watson at (312) 212-0667.
The graduating students arrange all aspects of Vespers with the help of the Rev. Julie Taylor, Senior Director of Contextual Ministry.
Vespers will be held at Meadville Lombard at 180 N. Wabash Ave., 7th Floor, on Saturday, May 14, 2022, at 5:00 p.m.
Please note:
Commencement Vespers will be live-streamed on Zoom. https://meadville-edu.zoom.us/j/86750207157
Webinar ID: 867 5020 7157
Conviviality and Dinner will be held at the Manor on the 3rd floor of the Virgin Hotels Chicago (203 N. Wabash Ave.), the kitty-corner from the Meadville Lombard, right after Vespers.
All attendees are asked to wear a mask while they are not eating or drinking.
This is a ticketed, seated dinner, and space is limited. Graduates will have an option to bring up to two guests. Please contact Elena if you have any questions.
There is no dress code, but we suggest business or business casual.
We will do our best to accommodate all dietary restrictions. However, we must know about them ahead of time. If you didn't provide the dietary information for you and your guests on the Intent to Graduate
Commencement will be held at the First Unitarian Church of Chicago at 5650 S. Woodlawn Avenue.
It will be live-streamed on our website, Facebook Page, and YouTube channel.
There is no dress code. Commencement is being held at First Unitarian Church of Chicago, so please wear what you'd wear to church or a similarly formal event.
We welcome children at Commencement. However, Meadville Lombard cannot arrange for childcare.
Robes and hoods for graduates will be handed out on Saturday after Vespers and on Sunday at the First Unitarian Church, from 1:00 p.m. in the RE classrooms on the north side of the church. Graduates and those participating in the Commencement procession are invited to robe there.
We will take a class photo before the ceremony, promptly at 2:15 p.m. Please arrive at 1:00 p.m. to allow ample time to pick up your robe and get ready for the photo.
Yes, you are welcome to take pictures, but only without flashes. During the Ceremony, we ask that all flashes be turned off. We will also have a photographer.
If you attend the Commencement Ceremony, you will receive an empty diploma holder during the ceremony. Whether you attend the ceremony or not, your diploma will be mailed to you in late May or early June.